Be Prepared for Long Lines, Snafus on Election Day

by James Parks, Oct 29, 2008

If early voting is any indication, there will be record turnouts on Election Day. You may need to put your patience and commitment to work on Election Day to deal with the long lines and possible snafus due to unfamiliar voting machines and deliberate false information.

The AFL-CIO and other progressive groups are urging as many voters as possible to vote early to bypass the long lines on Election Day, as well as any potential mistakes or mishaps that could result from voting at the last minute. You’ll also get to vote on your own schedule and avoid all those people who are trying to sway your vote—or turn you away—on Election Day.

Nationwide, nearly one-third of voters in 30 states are expected to vote early, shattering all records. The lines are so long in Florida that Republican Gov. Charlie Crist yesterday reversed a previous decision and extended early voting hours across the state to 12 hours a day. Election officials said some 43,000 people voted in one day in Miami-Dade and neighboring Broward counties, eclipsing the previous early voting record by 5,000. So far, more than 1.2 million people statewide have voted—roughly 10 percent of the state’s registered voters. (See video.)

And that scenario is being repeated throughout the country. In Georgia, lines were “down” to fewer than four hours by Tuesday, after growing to as long as eight hours on Monday. 

Early voting also has uncovered flaws in the system that could create a mess on Election Day. One is that there are millions of voters who will be casting ballots on unfamiliar machines. Lawrence Norden, director of voting technology at the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice told USA TODAY:

We know that on Nov. 4, voting systems will fail somewhere. There is no perfect system. All of these systems have problems.

More than 40 percent of the nation’s registered voters live in areas that have switched equipment since the 2004 presidential election. Since 2000, the figure is 68 percent. That increases the chance of human error in tabulating election results because voters and poll workers are less familiar with each new method of voting, Norden says.

One particular flaw in North Carolina’s balloting system could have a significant effect on the outcome in that state. Under North Carolina law, a straight-party vote in North Carolina includes every office except president—meaning this could result in as many as 100,000 votes not being cast for president. A seperate vote must be cast for president.

Diane Tucker reports on Huffington Post’s Off the Bus that the ballot design flaw disproportionately impacts three groups who are likely to be heavily represented in the election this year: new voters, the poor and the elderly.  

Adding to voter confusion, the Republican Party nationwide may challenge the legality of certain new voter registrations on Election Day. 

And then there is deliberate misinformation being handed out just before the election. The Virginian Pilot newspaper in Norfolk, reports that a phony Virginia Board of Elections flier is being distributed in the Hampton Roads, Va., area telling Republicans to vote on Nov. 4 and Democrats that they are now scheduled to vote on Nov. 5. The flier falsely claims that “an emergency session of the General Assembly” adopted a new voting schedule to “ease the load” at polling places on Election Day.

As the Pilot explains, “no emergency action has been taken by the General Assembly, which isn’t in session, and furthermore, doesn’t have the authority to change the date of a federal election.” Along with the rest of the nation, Virginians in all parties vote on Nov. 4.

You can check out the latest voting issues on the Huffington Post’s new Voting Problems page here.

With so much at stake in this election, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney suggests some simple steps to make sure your vote counts. In his column on the federation’s website, Sweeney gives this checklist from the AFL-CIO-led My Vote, My Right program: 

• Know where to go. Call the local elections office to check the location of your polling place. Sometimes polling places are changed, and voting in the wrong location could mean your vote won’t be counted.
• Vote early if you can. Many states allow early and absentee voting. Take advantage of this opportunity if you can. The huge upsurge in new voter registrations this year may mean long lines at the polls. Voting early or by absentee ballot also will allow you to spend Election Day as a volunteer poll worker or getting out the vote.
• Take identification. Rules vary by state, but be safe: Take a photo ID with you to the polls—preferably a government-issued ID such as a driver’s license. If you don’t have an official photo ID, at least take something official showing your name and address, like a bank statement or utility bill.
• Play it safe with buttons, T-shirts, caps and the like. Avoid problems. Don’t wear clothing or accessories that support or oppose any candidate or party, or make sure you can remove or cover them up if you’re required to do so before you can vote.
• Ask for help if you need it. Many states allow you to take a helper with you to vote (as long as it’s not a representative of your employer or your union) if you have a disability or need other assistance. Poll workers are there to help also, if you have questions or make a mistake on your ballot. My Vote, My Right and other voting rights advocates will be on hand in many polling places as well.
• Use a real ballot if you can. If there’s a question about your eligibility to vote in the polling place you go to, you may be offered a provisional ballot. Ask if you can vote using a regular ballot if you provide additional ID or go to a different polling place. Vote using a provisional ballot if you cannot get a regular ballot.
• Call for help if you think your rights are being violated. If you think your voting rights are at stake, ask to speak with the chief election official or a voting rights protection volunteer at the polls. If you still have concerns, a nationwide network of attorneys and voting rights specialists are ready to help. Call toll free 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683).
• Stay in line until you vote. Even if you face a long line—even if you’re in line when the polls are supposed to close—stand your ground and cast your vote.

 Click here to read the entire column. 

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