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![mypapernow > "I spent 30 years defending this country with the military. To wait three hours in line to execute the right to vote is not a problem for me," said Mike Harris, right, who retired from the Army. "It's a great gift [the right to vote]," he added. "It doesn't come cheap."
Harris and Brown were at the Bloomingdale Regional Library in Hillsborough County, Fla., where people throughout the day were waiting for more than three hours to vote. "I spent 21-and a-half years in the Air Force and, like Mike said, standing in line to execute my right to vote is nothing," Brown said.](http://www.mypapernow.com/Other/Election-2008-A-View-From-The/i-cxv2tF5/0/Ti/DSC_0344-Ti.jpg "mypapernow > \"I spent 30 years defending this country with the military. To wait three hours in line to execute the right to vote is not a problem for me,\" said Mike Harris, right, who retired from the Army. \"It's a great gift [the right to vote],\" he added. \"It doesn't come cheap.\"
Harris and Brown were at the Bloomingdale Regional Library in Hillsborough County, Fla., where people throughout the day were waiting for more than three hours to vote. \"I spent 21-and a-half years in the Air Force and, like Mike said, standing in line to execute my right to vote is nothing,\" Brown said.")
![mypapernow > "I just got my voter ID card in the mail three days ago," said Andy Jones of Robeks, at the Plaza Bella shopping center down the road from the Bloomingdale Regional Library, one of 13 locations for early voting in Hillsborough County, Fla. Jones said he heard from customers that they were waiting in line for more than three hours to cast their votes on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, the last day of early voting. "So I called my manager to fill in for me so I could give out free samples [on line]," Jones said. "I figured it would be great advertising. I know if I was in line for three hours I'd be a little thirsty and antsy." Jones said he is "pretty excited" about the long lines for his first election. "It shows that people finally do care," he said. "I don't believe you can complain if you don't vote."](http://www.mypapernow.com/Other/Election-2008-A-View-From-The/i-rvNnP9x/0/Ti/DSC_0589-Ti.jpg "mypapernow > \"I just got my voter ID card in the mail three days ago,\" said Andy Jones of Robeks, at the Plaza Bella shopping center down the road from the Bloomingdale Regional Library, one of 13 locations for early voting in Hillsborough County, Fla. Jones said he heard from customers that they were waiting in line for more than three hours to cast their votes on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, the last day of early voting. \"So I called my manager to fill in for me so I could give out free samples [on line],\" Jones said. \"I figured it would be great advertising. I know if I was in line for three hours I'd be a little thirsty and antsy.\" Jones said he is \"pretty excited\" about the long lines for his first election. \"It shows that people finally do care,\" he said. \"I don't believe you can complain if you don't vote.\"")
![mypapernow > "I'm surprised to see so many people voting, especially early," said Angela Boyd, on this line Nov. 1 at the Bloomingdale Regional Library in Valrico, Fla. "We have two very good candidates [for president] and people, they want to make a statement."](http://www.mypapernow.com/Other/Election-2008-A-View-From-The/i-jnqrft3/0/Ti/DSC_0376-Ti.jpg "mypapernow > \"I'm surprised to see so many people voting, especially early,\" said Angela Boyd, on this line Nov. 1 at the Bloomingdale Regional Library in Valrico, Fla. \"We have two very good candidates [for president] and people, they want to make a statement.\"")
![mypapernow > "I think it's very enlightening that people are finally paying attention to what is happening to our nation," said Brenda Catozzi said, in line to cast an early vote with her husband, Rich. "The war in Iraq and definitely the economy. I think those are the primary reasons why people are interested [in this year's presidential election]."
She gave credit, too, to the election's historical significance. "The election as a whole had a strong interest from the beginning," Catozzi said. "We had very strong people in the race," including, she noted, the first woman running for president, the first black running for president "and the oldest man who ever ran for president."](http://www.mypapernow.com/Other/Election-2008-A-View-From-The/i-wpW5CzF/0/Ti/DSC_0598-Ti.jpg "mypapernow > \"I think it's very enlightening that people are finally paying attention to what is happening to our nation,\" said Brenda Catozzi said, in line to cast an early vote with her husband, Rich. \"The war in Iraq and definitely the economy. I think those are the primary reasons why people are interested [in this year's presidential election].\"
She gave credit, too, to the election's historical significance. \"The election as a whole had a strong interest from the beginning,\" Catozzi said. \"We had very strong people in the race,\" including, she noted, the first woman running for president, the first black running for president \"and the oldest man who ever ran for president.\"")
An EARLY VOTING record has been set in Hillsborough County. According to the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections, there were 146,332 early votes cast in 2008, a 67 percent increase over the 86,617 early ballots in 2004. The 2008 total includes the 11,718 early votes cast at the Bloomingdale Regional Library, above, which was not yet open in 2004. Early voting in Hillsborough County, Fla., took place at 13 locations from Oct. 20 through Nov. 1. The number of voters at each location is available later in this news/photo gallery, beginning with Page 2.
An EARLY VOTING record has been set in Hillsborough County. According to the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections, there were 146,332 early votes cast in 2008, a 67 percent increase over the 86,617 early ballots in 2004. The 2008 total includes the 11,718 early votes cast at the Bloomingdale Regional Library, above, which was not yet open in 2004. Early voting in Hillsborough County, Fla., took place at 13 locations from Oct. 20 through Nov. 1. The number of voters at each location is available later in this news/photo gallery, beginning with Page 2.
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