What happens if crowds are waiting at poll closing time?

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

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.

---

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.

---

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

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

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.

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

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.

---

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.

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.

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.

---