Blaring Headlines -- Miami Herald -- LONG WAITS

[CarlFrank]

I worry that these everyday headlines in the Miami Herald (and other Florida papers) may discourage people from voting. The lines and waiting times are horrible, a minimum of 30 minutes some places but mostly 2-3 hours. The miamidade/gov/elections website tells you how long the waits are at each polling place. The newspapers and news everyday now show photos of long lines and frustrated voters. We did try to go about 2:00 yesterday in a fairly upscale voting place, could not even park the car and lines around the block.

[mucifer]

1. Hopefully our voters are more dedicated than their voters.

[fugop]

2. Not the Dems!

It won't discourage the Democrats. I was so encouraged to read that poll the other day that gauged whether voters are voting for or against a candidate. Obama had a HUGE number voting specifically for him, not against the other guy. It was amazing to see. I believe that's why early voting is so important. I think the Obama voters will stay in line or come back day after day. They will not be denied. Not this time!

[gaiilonfong]

3. I waited 4 hours yesterday

and I loved EVERY minute when I blackened the hole for OBAMA/BIDEN


Believe me no ones cares on the lines, they are determined to vote, of course I am in Broward County so this is Obama country

[Thrill]

4. The Democratic Party Leaders in Florida must be Pussies

I heard Randi Rhodes talking about they have two Printers in some of the heavy Democratic Polling Places. What the hell have they been doing? They knew this election would be record turnouts

[high density]

5. 2-3 hours to vote?

That is ridiculous. Why is it so backed up? The wait should be 15 minutes or less.

[paparush]

6. NPR aired a segment this morning on long lines in several states.

Mentioned several times about people dropping out of line.

Piece had a rather negative tone to it along the lines of "Voting is a real pain in the ass. Don't bother."

[1corona4u]

7. Oh, just stop it...

first of all, the ballots are brand new this year. They are paper. There are a lot more people voting early, because it's relatively new to the state.(2004) In my area, there are 11 polling places from Jupiter, Fl to Boynton Beach, which is about 40 miles. Also, this isn't anything like election day. On election day, you can practically throw a rock from one polling place to another. They have until the 2nd to vote early.

One thing I will say about the ballot in Miami, it's a cluster fuck. Done in THREE languages, and very hectic looking.

[five_horizons]

8. I wouldn't worry about it

Most polls show Obama supporters have a much higher enthusiasm level for our candidate. Seemingly that would mean our voters would be willing to stand and wait compared to voters for the other side.

[RebelOne]

9. The local news here in the Atlanta area

reported this morning that on Nov. 4, the wait could be as long as 6 hours.

[mohc]

10. Speaking only for Palm Beach County

There are only 11 polling locations in all of Palm Beach County available for early voting. 1 location is out in rural Palm Beach and the other 10 are spread out across the more urban coastal area. Pretty much everyone of these 10 locations is at capacity. Meaning from when the polls open until when the polls close the machines are all occupied. Basically there are more people wanting to vote each day than there is time for them to vote, so people are coming in earlier to be sure they will get through. This coming weekend will be horrible as there will be even more people that can and want to vote but 4 less hours to vote as they are only open for 4 hours instead of 8 on the weekends.

[davidpdx]

11. Well look at it this way, people have more of a chance to vote

and hopefully the lines will not be bad on election day if tons of people vote early. The problems in Ohio in 2004 are what people are worried about. People waiting in line for 2, 4, 6 even 8 or more hours (especially minorities who vote heavily for D's).