What happens if crowds are waiting at poll closing time?

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/2/08 at 8:01pm

The early voting reports are heartening, deeply gratifying. Watching people wait 5-7 hours to vote is beyond moving. One woman in Georgia said "I was told it was two hours once you get inside the door. It was five, but I don't care. I'm here. I'm voting!" And people cheered.

So what happens if this record turnout continues in these east coast states on election night? What if hundreds are lined up for the meager number of machines, unable to cast their vote when doors close? Will they delay the closing and the much awaited results in every polling site where people still wait? I'm naive about rules and regs -- are they the same? Crist allowed them to keep Florida's open -- but they were early. What happenes on Tuesday? There's no follow-up day to cast votes, can they send people home because there are insufficient machines to handle the citizens?

Updated On: 11/2/08 at 08:01 PM

[Mandi Moo]

Posted: 11/2/08 at 8:03pm

If you're in line by 9PM they're not allowed to turn you away.

[madbrian]

Posted: 11/2/08 at 8:08pm

Anyone who is in line at closing time is entitled to vote, however keep in mind that the networks could call the state before you get to cast your ballot.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/2/08 at 8:59pm

Why is it taking so long to vote with early voting?

Crazy-high turnout? Or lack of voting locations?

We all used to do it (more or less) on one day. Election Day.

So, why is it worse, now that it's spread out over many days?

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 11/2/08 at 9:29pm

Besty, I believe I read that it's taking so long because the woman who gives out the candy screens you first to see who you're voting for.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/2/08 at 9:32pm

Why is it taking so long to vote with early voting?

Crazy-high turnout? Or lack of voting locations?


Speaking strictly for my district out here in suburban NJ, we vote in the front lobby of a local middle school. They have exactly two voting machines set up. Now, in the past five years, the population of the town has exploded. Tons of new developments have been built, and there are a lot more voters living here now than there were before. They've not added another polling place or created a new district. So, we have just two lonely voting machines. Plus, the poll workers, are, how shall we say, much older, and very slow as they flip through the book to look for your name on the registrar. Don't even try to tell one of them that you would like to write in your vote- you'll send them over the edge!
Updated On: 11/2/08 at 09:32 PM

[KrissySim]

Posted: 11/3/08 at 12:14am

Where I'm staying you can only vote by mail. There are no voting polls. Your postmark must be no later than Nov. 4.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 11/3/08 at 12:49am

Krissy, are you in ALaska?

[KrissySim]

Posted: 11/3/08 at 1:00am

Without pinning it down too closely, I'm registered in Washington state.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 11/3/08 at 1:13am

I was trying to be funny. It doesn't always work.

[KrissySim]

Posted: 11/3/08 at 1:16am

XD

Yeah, I've noticed that communicating on the internet is not like talking to someone in person. Delivery of the lines can make all the difference.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 11/3/08 at 1:35am

WHen I was in college AND grad school, I was told by my creative writing instructors that I had a gift for "understatement."

[Luscious]

Posted: 11/3/08 at 6:36am

It's appalling that in this day and age anyone should have to wait more than a few minutes to vote. Stories of people having to wait up to 6 hours in line are infuriating. And then they wonder why so many people say f#@k it and don't bother to vote. If they really want as many people to vote as possible, every state should have early voting and Election Day should be a national holiday or, at the very least, should be on a Saturday or Sunday. I saw a report recently of how easy it is to vote in Nevada. They have early voting for two weeks leading up to Election Day. And you don't have to vote at any one particular place. They have voting terminals everywhere, including shopping malls. The only place they're not allowed is casinos. You can vote wherever and whenever you choose. That's how it should be everywhere. Voting reform is desperately needed, and yet neither party has seriously addressed this issue.

Updated On: 11/3/08 at 06:36 AM

[madbrian]

Posted: 11/3/08 at 6:47am

I believe in the states that allow early voting, the early polling places are few and far between. Only a fraction of the number of places that will be open tomorrow. The polls open at 6AM tomorrow here in NJ, and I plan on being there before that so my wait (hopefullyu) won't be too long.

[javero]

Posted: 11/3/08 at 7:18am

Poll here in MD open at 7am tomorrow so I'll be in place by 5am. Luckily for me my polling place is a block and 1/2 from my home.

MD has a question on the ballot to amend the state constitution to permit early voting amongst other changes. I don't agree with it in its entirety but will be voting for the amendment. There are portions of the amendment language which set the state up for increased voter fraud imo.

[shameless]

Posted: 11/3/08 at 10:52am

Our polls closed yesterday at 4 PM and when I was driving home at around 8 PM, there were still a couple hundred people standing in line at the library to vote.

I think it's a combination of high turnout and very limited early voting locations.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 11/3/08 at 10:56am

I beleive that every state has a method to keep polls open to accomidate long lines. Here in Chicago, we vote early and often. I was registered three times by ACORN as PalJoey, papalovesmambo and DAME.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 11/3/08 at 11:01am

The lesson: vote early.

If you wait until tomorrow vote early in the day. be late to work. if someone gives you grief tell them you'll drop a house on them too.

In NY you have to vote by 9 pm (I think). You can be in line and if you get to the door at 9:01, you are SOL.

I voted at the Bd of Elections via absentee ballot on Saturday. You can do it today too.

200 Varick St, corner of Houston, 10th floor.

Took 17 minutes start to finish.

[wonkit]

Posted: 11/3/08 at 11:03am

In CT, in my district at least, they have switched from the wonderful old curtained metal lever voting machines, to optical scanners. Anyone who didn't vote in either the last local election or the primaries is going to be using this system for the first time. I expect that there will be very long waits as a result. And because the ballots must be carefully marked, it takes time to vote. It used to be that if you voted a straight party ticket, it took about 10 seconds to vote. Not any more.

[WindyCityActor]

Posted: 11/3/08 at 11:06am

My voting location practically next door to my house....I usually set my alarm clock early, roll of of bed....slip into some sweatpants and a t-shirt, and vote....then go back to bed.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/3/08 at 11:27am

I do find it oddly unsettling that we possess too few voting machines in many states. There really is no reason for a 7 hour line in 2008. Can you imagine a store staying in business that required that time to check out? Even the DMV doesn't take that long, or the post office, two bureaucratic institutions that drive us all insane. And people still fear registering because "then I'll get called for jury duty." Remember that? We are provided gooey, tear-stained messages about voting and Freedom -- as in, look at the Iraqi waiting a day to raise their purple fingers!" But here, too many people take it lightly, and too many others would just as soon many more people -- especially in poorer areas -- stayed home and never got near a booth.