With all the long lines are/will voters be turned away ?

[Iwasthere]

I suspect that Obama would be winning by a much bigger margin if there were twice as many places to vote or if the entire country voted by mail, like we do here in oregon. How many are not going because they cannot wait in long lines taking hours and hours? What does the law state? How long are the lines allowed to get? JFC!!!

[Danieljay]

1. Yes, depending on the state. I heard CBS talking about it this morning. Law varies by state.

Some close, some remain open for those in line.

Show up early!

[mtnester]

2. In Ohio, if you are IN LINE when the polls close at 7:30, you get to stay

in line until you can vote. I do not think ANY state can turn you away of you are in line already when the polls close. Even if it takes 5 more hours.

[Iwasthere]

3. How many more would be voting though...

... if they didn't have to wait 5 hours ?

[mtnester]

13. I did see some leave, usually in tears

but the majority of folks stuck it out, KNOWING in advancxe as they walked up that they would be in line for that long

It is Democracry at its best, and its worst

[AndyTiedye]

7. 5 Hours Without Going to the Bathroom

[Danieljay]

10. I'd piss in a bottle if I had to this election. n/t

[mtnester]

12. That is EXACTLY what happened in 2004

because I waited right along with them as an Election Protection volunteer.

And for the upthread user, there were a couple hundred in line at that time.

[Kukesa]

9. The same for Montgomery County, Ohio. If the SoS declares

that the polls remain open, at 7:30 pm a poll worker goes to the end of the line and stands there, no matter how long that line is.

Anyone who comes in after 7:30 pm may vote on a provisional ballot until the polls are declared closed.

[enough]

4. In PA, if you're in line by 8PM, you get to vote.

[dflprincess]

6. Same with Minnesota (n/t)

[progressivebydesign]

5. The lines, for the most part, should calm tomorrow. The Early Voting lines were different..

because those places consolidated many many polling precincts into a tiny fraction of places to vote for Early voting. Yes, some places will be impacted tomorrow, but it shouldn't be too awful.

[intheflow]

8. This is the best reason to make Election Day

a national holiday, so those folks lucky enough to have a job* won't be docked for time taken to vote.





*Offer does not apply to part-time, retail, service, and temp employees who don't get paid for national holidays unless they work 'em. x(

[elleng]

11. I agree that we all should vote by mail.

I'm visiting at a retirement community in Florida now, and its a polling place, so I may be able to provide some up close and personal info on effect of all this tomorrow. I'm SURE that many here will not be able to wait for long period of time (even tho weather is kind of moderate.)

[fujiyama]

14. The OR voting system works well

Turnout has been great in past elections. I doubt either republicans or democrats are against it. And hell, there are even ballot drop boxes all over the state where they are collected.

I'm residing here in OR currently and I overheard some senior citizens discussing how much they liked it. I voted absentee myself (from my home state of MI), and I found that very convenient (except for having to buy stamps). Overall, vote by mail is great in my opinion!