MSNBC: Florida polls jammed, but hours won't be extended like they were in the Primary...

[Youphemism]

MSNBC just talked about the long lines in Florida. They said there was a request submitted to keep the polls open longer to make sure everybody had a chance to vote, like they did -- where was it? Washington DC? -- during the primaries when traffic was completely stationary on the freeways.

The election administration said that extending the poll hours was not in their hands, but in the hands of the (republican) state administration.

From a purely self-serving position, I have to wonder whether that won't give an edge to Obama. It's the older voters who favor McCain and might have trouble standing in line for hours.

But voting is too important to be a partisan thing. If those stinkin' Florida election folks can't -- yet again -- get their act in gear to keep voting from taking hours, then they should at least adjust the hours to make sure everyone who wants to vote gets the chance.

And then everyone who has ever worked in a Florida election should be fired, even if they've gone on to a new job. We've given them eight years to get their act in gear.

[ej510]

1. It's another form of voter supression.

[nc4bo]

5. Yes it is and people should be screaming about it.

My thought processes are way too simple for my own good. I figure most businesses will stay open until the last customer in line (or in the store) has been served.

Even my local grocery store will not slam the doors and tell everyone in line to get out - Sorry ya'll store's closing at 9.

Cashiers will stay on duty until the very last customer in line has been checked out.

:wtf: it's plain old common business sense and it should be plain old common sense that tax payers are the customer and every customer in line deserves to vote, I don't care how long the bloody line is.

[PermanentRevolution]

6. Everyone in line DOES get to vote

The hours determine when they stop letting people get in line - everyone who's already in line gets to vote.

EDIT: I guess I should say this is how Miami's doing it - other counties may be different

[nc4bo]

9. Ok, got cha. So in order to cut down on the number of people voting, simply reduce

hours and voting locations.

Horrid.

[PermanentRevolution]

11. Yep, pretty much.

Then, when they can't early vote, it'll drive lines up on Election Day and cause people to give up from the even longer lines then. I've been telling everyone I can that it doesn't matter how long the line is, stay and get it done. Don't keep putting it off and hope that it'll get shorter, 'cause you might find yourself unable to vote at all.

[Clovis Sangrail]

2. I liked our poll workers

they were friendly, conscientious, and helpful
they didn't design the system - they're just doing their best to make it work

[Youphemism]

7. Well then maybe they need to stampede their bosses. *Something* needs to be done.

This is an election, for crying out loud, not a lunar mission. Recording votes isn't rocket science and nobody needs to wait four hours in line.

There's NO excuse for it.

Again, there's been eight years to fix this. Four hours for a vote, even when the vote is spread out instead of all on one day, is beyond unacceptable.

[glowing]

3. The other poblem is that they've cut down on the number of early

voting locations that are normally offered... In 2004 and 2006 (gov. race), there were two different locations offered in my area in the Northern part of my county.. those two places are not open this year, and voting early requires going much further south and into more heavily populated areas. I'm actually surprised that they cut these two locations out because where I live is normally very red.

[Mz Pip]

4. I know I'd be angry

if I had to stand in line for hours to vote. seems like this should have been anticipated and more polling places should have been opened up. I live in a very small town in CA, 17,000 people and we have several polling places in the town. The longest I have ever waited in line was 5 minutes.

Even the one time I had a problem when I didn't show up on the voter rolls the precient worker had provisional ballots handy and it was taken care of in about 2 minutes.

This really shouldn't be rocket science. After 2006 anyone could have predicted that 2008 would be a huge turn out election. Not being ready is just criminal IMHO.

[Youphemism]

8. Exactly! Well said. I *am* angry (well, "worked up," anyway) and I'm here in CA with you. /nt

[RollWithIt]

10. The early voting precinct I went to, if you get inside the door by 6 on the waitlist they let you...

vote. Early voting hrs are dependent on the county. Some counties have longer hours than other. All counties are Monday-Sat. Some are 7 days a week.

[pnwmom]

12. Elderly voters often have permanent absentee ballots, which is probably why

absentee votes traditionally favor Republicans.

[FLyellowdog]

13. Contact Charlie Crist

[e-mail]

Phone # [phone]

[dogpatch]

14. we need a dedicated "voting holiday"

Like they do in other countries, where it's a day off for most employees so they can focus on getting their voting done. Or maybe we should do it by mail. I think that's how they do it in Oregon and the participation rate is really high.

[rasputin1952]

15. When I worked the polls in AZ years ago...

if you were in line when the polls closed, you got to cast a ballot. One member from each party was sent out to turn away "late" voters. To us, it seemed to be the fairest way to deal w/the situation.