Welcome to democracy central -- Betsy Norris' garage

Millions of Americans voted today in school gymnasiums, churches and firehouses. Only a few hundred shared in the peculiarly Californian experience of casting a ballot in Betsy Norris' garage.

Norris moved to her home in Hancock Park in 1961, and for more than 40 years she has been hosting elections in the small, ivy-clad building behind her house. Today, dressed in a dark blouse, pink sweater and long print skirt, she presided over the room, welcoming neighbors as they came to cast ballots.

For much of the morning, the line stretched out the door, across the brick patio and down the concrete walkway to Citrus Avenue. Even at 6:30 a.m., "there were 30 people lined up," Norris told a visitor. "That's never happened before."

Norris had ordered 800 ballots for her polling place, but by early afternoon, 400 already had been used, including 26 cast as provisional ballots by people whose names were not on the registration lists. "We've ordered more," she said, "we want everyone who is eligible to be able to vote."

Small polling places such as Norris' complicate life for election officials, who have been moving to consolidate polling stations. The advance work -- setting up the six voting booths, moving the comfortable furniture out of the way, arranging the voting registers -- takes a couple of days, and fewer people are willing to do that now.

But such neighborhood polls offer a unique experience for residents, particularly in an area such as hers that is made up primarily of long-time homeowners. "It's a very tight-knit neighborhood. We know each other, walk our dogs, wave at each other," Norris said. "It's "How's your husband? Oh, he died? I'm so sorry.' "

So polling day has a special feel at Norris' garage. "It's great to see everyone."

-- David Lauter