Polling an entire nation is no mean feat, and with a colossal electorate to serve, not every voting booth can be in a church or town hall.
Here are some of the strangest places American adults can cast their votes, from the breathtakingly beautiful to the totally mundane…
1. Su Nueva Laundromat – Chicago, Illinois
A voter casts a ballot at Su Nueva laundromat during voting in Illinois' presidential primary election in Chicago pic.twitter.com/hL2emeiT0M
— Boateng Duka Kofi (@DukaKofi) March 17, 2016
Advertisement
Washing and voting machines are both common sights at the Su Nueva Laundromat in Chicago, a perfect example of the everyday nuts and bolts that keep American democracy rolling. A veteran of several election cycles, it’s one of many eclectic locations around the city, alongside cafes, billiard halls, and bowling alleys.
2. The Mummers Museum – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Democracy is no laughing matter, but while voting in the Mummers Museum, Philadelphia, it’s easy to feel slightly silly. Every New Year’s Day (in non-Covid times) the city holds the Mummers Parade, a bacchanal of bizarre outfits and elaborate props – many of which are preserved for posterity in the eponymous museum.
Come Election Day the museum becomes a polling centre, and punters queue up to vote surrounded by intricate masques, vibrant plumes, and psychedelic costumes, similar to those seen at Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
3. North Pole Plaza – North Pole, Alaska
In the small city of North Pole, near Fairbanks, Alaska, residents will split their voting between North Pole Plaza, on Santa Claus Lane, and North Pole City Hall, on Snowman Lane. To the residents, this is entirely normal. We still think it’s rather funny.
4. Neptune Society Columbarium – San Francisco, California
Neptune Society Columbarium in #SanFrancisco #California pic.twitter.com/YUuHVejHXX
— ⛩ 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒃𝒚 𝑯𝒊𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒊 ⛩ (@deathbyhibachi) April 12, 2017
An historic place to cast an historic vote, the Neptune Society Columbarium was built in 1898, a four storey masterpiece of neo-classical design, and still houses the cremated remains of 8,500 people – including Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected politician in California. The hallowed halls regularly host elections, surrounded by countless stained glass windows.
5. Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel – Los Angeles, California
One of the swankiest hotels in LA, and that really is saying something, this Bel Air establishment is normally as exclusive as they come, but periodically opens to the masses in the name of democracy. The hotel was a ’round-the-clock’ polling station during the primaries earlier this year, and made headlines in 2016 by offering a “luxury voting experience”, complete with yoga classes, complimentary breakfast, valet parking, and live sitar players.
6. Venice Beach Lifeguard Station – Venice, California
Venice Beach Lifeguard Headquarters remains America's coolest polling station #nofilter pic.twitter.com/qOet6zXXlZ
— Adam Rose (@adjoro) June 8, 2016
Another longstanding polling station, punters have been known to line up wearing wetsuits so they can vote before or after surf sessions. It’s just as well California has nice weather, as the queue is entirely open to the elements as it snakes down the beach.
7. The International Space Station
Astronauts have been legally allowed to vote since 1997, and this year Kate Rubins returned a very absentee ballot when she voted on October 22 in a canvas ‘voting booth’ in the International Space Station, nearly 250 miles above the surface of the Earth. It’s actually the second time she’s logged her ballot from orbit, as she was an Expedition 48-39 crew member in 2016.
