Judge Refuses to Order Longer Voting Hours in Va.

[underpants]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/03/AR2008110302058.html

Associated Press
Monday, November 3, 2008; 4:34 PM

A federal judge has refused to order longer voting hours in Virginia and reallocation of voting machines to black precincts in some localities.

The changes were sought by the NAACP on the eve of an Election Day that is expected to produce unprecedented turnout in Virginia, a battleground state in the presidential election.

Judge Richard Williams listened to arguments from the plaintiffs' attorney but didn't even hear from lawyers for the defendants before denying a motion for a preliminary injunction today. However, the judge did order the state Board of Elections to publicize the availability of curbside voting for older or disabled voters, along with the fact that people in line by 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

[godai]

1. Well, if you're in line by 7 pm, you'll vote.

I worked an election in Virginia as an Election Official and it's a very long day, with no breaks. The day ran from 4 am to midnight, even with the polls closing at 7 pm. People voted until about 8:30 pm.

[AspenRose]

2. 4 am?

Are you telling me I need to be at the polls at 4 am? :wow:

I was planning to go at 6 am so I could vote early

[godai]

9. Polls open at 6 am. Poll workers need to be there earlier to set everything up.

There was a line of maybe 30 people at 6 am.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

3. SEE MADDOW ON THE POLL TAX OF THE 21 CENTURY

SEE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EAyiA5Rmf0 AND REC THIS

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Rachel is so right!

[BlooInBloo]

8. That's the Rachel I love!

[BlooInBloo]

5. We'll win ANYWAY fucker.

[elocs]

6. Here in Wisconsin the polls are open until 8 p.m. and if you are in line at 8, you get to vote.

I think that the early voting we have had is going to make voting day less congested. I think that with all of the early voting and people encouraged to vote early and with being able to cast your vote if you are in line at poll closing time, if you cannot manage to get to vote on election day I would question how seriously you really want to vote.

An interesting side note here in Wisconsin: if you are in line and are in need of a chair, by law you are supposed to be provided with a chair (heard a rep from the League of Women Voters say that on the radio this morning).

[FVZA_Colonel]

7. Damn it.

Well, we'll take the bloody state without it.