I waited seven hours to vote yesterday.

[deadmessengers]

I participated in Georgia's early voting process yesterday. I arrived at the polling location at 8:30am, and didn't get to vote for seven hours. I'll have a longer post about this later, but I wanted to share something I overheard while waiting on the interminable lines. The man standing behind me on line was an African-American man in his 60s, a Vietnam vet. One thing he said to the other people on line around us: (paraphrasing here, I don't recall the precise quote):

"I've been waiting my whole life to be able to vote for a brother for President, and waiting a few more hours doesn't mean a damn thing."

I always knew the historical significance of this moment, and of this event, but it really wasn't until I heard that that this white boy truly appreciated how much this really means.

[Eric J in MN]

1. Thank you. Why was the line was so slow? NT

NT

[deadmessengers]

17. Failure to anticipate increased turnout, and lack of pollworkers

There were no problems with the voting machines themselves, but each voter had to be manually data-entered by an election department employee. There were eight pollworkers there, and those pollworkers were the bottleneck. Also, there was a distinct slowdown between 11:30 and 1:30, as the pollworkers went out for lunch, and as far as I could tell weren't replaced.

[Eric J in MN]

21. In Minnesota, voters sign their names on paper next to...

...where their names are already on a list, before getting their ballots. No data-entry for people already registered in MN. (We don't have early-voting.)

Is it just during early-voting in GA that "each voter had to be manually data-entered" or is that how it usually works when people vote in GA?

[deadmessengers]

27. Only during early voting.

The data entry is required because there's no precinct list available during early voting - anyone in the county can show up and vote at any of the early voting locations. The data entry is required to be able to give each voter the correct electronic ballot for their state Senate district, Congressional district, etc, as well as preventing people from voting multiple times at multiple polling locations. Essentially, they treat it like an absentee ballot, cast using electronic machines.

For regular voting, there's a preprinted list at each precinct, and it's much as you describe above - a much simpler process.

[crispini]

25. It's always the damn sign-in, isn't it?

We have a faster sign-in process here, but yes, that almost always seems to be the bottleneck in my experience.

[Lex]

2. A 7 hour wait to vote in this country

(or any) is unacceptable and disheartening.

[Critters2]

9. Absolutely. But I think they'll be surprised to see how many are willing to do that

if necessary. The long lines are voter suppression plain and simple. They've underestimated how important this historical moment is. We'll win, even if it means standing in long lines to do it!

[Democat]

16. 7 hours? Probably shorter lines in third world countries!

What the hell?

[hisownpetard]

3. That's wonderful. A big 'thank-you' to you and all of the others (in Fla, Ga and every other state)

who have stood in lines and waited and waited and not given up until they cast their vote
for the next President of the United States, Barack Obama!


:loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[Lancer]

4. I'm sorry you waited so long, but seems like it was worth it

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Smarmie Doofus]

5. That's touching but why are people having to wait 7 hours?! nt

[PearliePoo2]

6. There is something so very wrong.......

that our citizens have to wait 7 damn hours to vote.
In America.... in 2008...totally unacceptable.

[KurtNYC]

7. Good for him, but no one should have to wait that long to vote

There are plenty of people without the stamina to stand up for 7 hours. This is the third thread that I have read about the situation in Georgia. Is there an option to vote by mail in ballot?

[graywarrior]

8. 7 hours?!

That's a days work! God love you!

[onehandle]

10. Our Georgia GOP is Hard at work to suppress the vote.

Tuesday will be a nightmare.

[deadmessengers]

19. THIS

I'm convinced that the lack of pollworkers was a deliberate attempt to suppress the vote. There's just no reason I can think of for it to be otherwise.

[tblue37]

11. Remember these long lines?

Black South Africans lined up to vote for the first time after apartheid ended:



Sometimes the wait is worth it, no matter how long the wait might be.

[Peace Patriot]

14. Yeah, I do remember that stunning photo! It came at a time when U.S. voting

had slipped to under 50% of eligible voters, to our disgrace.

I had a news clipping of that photo on my wall for twenty years, yellowing with age, I found it so moving.

I wonder what the turnout is going to be here, this time. I expect it to be record-setting--although we have the very grave problem of not being able to trust the numbers that these rightwing corpos that run the election, with their 'TRADE SECRET' code, give us--and with no means to verify them in half the voting systems in the country, which have no paper trail at all, and virtually no audit (1%) in the other half.

That's what comes from not voting. They take your right to vote away.

But "the times they are a-changin," as Bob Dylan once sang. They are. Our democracy is being reborn. And I think the whole world is going to be shouting for joy with us, as we elect the first mixed race president in our history (that we know of), and finally oust the Bush Junta.

It will be joy like they felt in South Africa, when 'apartheid' was finally overcome.

[grantcart]

12. GA early vote has been huge 1,056,352

Over 30% of the state has already voted. This is compared with 20% for the entire time in 2004 so it is probable that early voting in GA will reach 150% increase if not 200%.

AA early voting 35% of total while their percent of the state population 30%.

If it continues at this rate the lines on election day will be very light.


http://elections.gmu.edu/early_vote_2008.html

[budkin]

13. Wow that is crazy.

[Vinca]

15. What the hell is wrong with states? They should be able to open

more polling places when necessary. I can't imagine waiting 7 hours to vote, but I sure would this year if I had to. Good for you and all the people who voted with you.

[cliffordu]

18. Thanks for your perseverance.

[Terran]

20. No early voting here in MO, but I have a question:

Aren't the lines long for early voting because there are only a small number of polling places open and basically a large portion of the population is trying to vote at those few places? And there's no realistic way to have every precinct open for voting every day for several weeks, or however long early voting goes on, so long lines are to be expected. So basically, taking advantage of early voting is a matter of opportunity--one should expect to be waiting for a few hours, most likely, and if you have the time available, then do it. It may be inconvenient, but keep in mind it's not the actual election; it's a pressure-release mechanism that will improve over condition on Election Day.

[genna]

22. I waited 30 to 45 minutes in GA two weeks ago.

I've tried to get my father to go vote because I knew the lines would get longer.


7 hours might be outrageous but I think most of us will do what we have to do. Next election, states will be forewarned and have more polling places, more workers, and more machines. Republicans might have done things to discourage voters, but let's be honest this is the most participation we've had PERIOD.

[demokatgurrl]

23. That's beautiful, and I hope hope hope

that every other African American voter - and all the rest of us to- feels the same way, appreciates the moment just as much, and stands their ground until they get to vote.

[renate]

24. that's a wonderful story--thank you!

But SEVEN HOURS! In a DEMOCRACY?!? :eyes:

Thank you for waiting so long. :patriot: It must have been inspiring to spend that time with the man behind you and to be a part of that special day for him.

[ecstatic]

26. do we need a lawsuit in Georgia?

Seriously! Thank you for waiting in line for 7 hours, but this is outrageous!

[bklyngrl60]

28. Thank you for posting that! And thank you for your fortitude!!! I pray all of us have the same

resolve!

[Nipper1959]

29. Thank you

We in Wisconsin are spoiled by our efficient system. Even with same day registration at the polls I've never taken more than 30 minutes to vote. The red states have to fuck with voters, the lower the vote totals the better the repugs chances.

[Smuckies]

30. Thank you. We will win Georgia.

[K8-EEE]

31. thak you!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!