Neighborhood block party

   I purposely waited until about 9:30 vote, hoping the experts' advice about mid-morning offering a shorter wait would hold true. I asked people who were leaving Stono Park Elementary  (St. Andrews 7) as I arrived how long it had taken them. Two and a half hours, was their response.  And that's what it took me. I walked out  just after noon.  For the most part, it was a very congenial wait.  I visited with friends and neighbors in line, and that was much better than reading a book. About two hours into the wait, there was one gentleman who got upset because he felt a drop or two of rain and wanted the poll workers to move the line inside (and there wasn't room enough fit everyone inside). Other than that, everything appeared to move smoothly. So all in all, not a bad experience.
   I've talked with several friends who voted elsewhere and heard of waits from 10 minutes to three hours at the same site. I'll check back later at Stono Park and some other West Ashley spots and see how things are going.

-- Tommy Braswell, Post and Courier sports writer