Can the polling places handle the overload of voters?

[jn2375]

My biggest fear is the polling places will be swamped. Will they try to close the polling places at 8:00 if people are still standing in line to vote? Has this been addressed?

[napi21]

1. I've not thought about them closing, but of people getting tired

waiting in line and just giving up and going home.

[Lefta Dissenter]

2. I don't know,

but I've already volunteer to work at our polling place. They were so delighted to hear that, they practically handcuffed me to the chair on the spot!

[dietdpfan]

3. I've wondered that myself.

There are sooo many voter registration drives going!

I think this will be the best turnout ever in our country's history but I think you are right about the overflow.

I doubt recording offices have thought about this. Many crucial votes will not be counted--but are we really surprised at this? * did the same thing last election so why should we be surprised when thousands are turned away at the end of the day.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. In the past,

I believe polling places have stayed open until everyone has had a chance to vote.

I vote in a building sometimes used as a church. There aren't any booths, but plenty of pews. I think most of my township could fit in there all at once with no problem. The hold up would be the special pencils-we fill in circles on the ballot and it is scanned.

[Spinzonner]

5. In California

anyone arriving before the close of the polls gets to vote. ANyone after does not.

But that could keep them running quite late in an already long day.

And there could be supply issues in non-electronic counties.

However, I'm expecting the biggest crowds early in the morning and after work hours, not at the last minute.

[readmylips]

6. One bigger problem...

counties don't have manpower to process new voters, about 6000 a day. Governors of repig states not willing to help or very easy to put all their manpower processing just republican new voters. The fix is on.

[jn2375]

7. I vaguely remembering in 2000 there was a fight going on

in one state to keep the polls open past closing. Can't remember which one. Does anyone else remember this?

[murielm99]

9. I believe it was St. Louis, in a heavily African American area.

eom

[Warpy]

8. I printed out a copy of NM state law, and I WILL be going to the

precinct when the polls are set to close. By state law, if those machines shut down, people MUST BE given paper ballots and the polling can't be shut down while people are still in line. You can bet I'll be there and I am planning to be a royal pain in the ass if the law isn't followed. I will be taking names to give to the ACLU for a possible suit later if the law isn't followed to the letter.

Did I mention that this area is heavily Democratic?

New Mexico has early voting, so I'm not anticipating a great deal of trouble on November 2. However, should it occur, I will be ready.

[murielm99]

10. Something like this happened in my community once.

There was a school referendum that failed. Many of the parents were so disappointed, that they ran a voter registration drive, and got the vote out when the issue came up on the next ballot.

The polls were swamped, and the referendum passed. The election judges were harried, and I did hear about it from some of them the next day. Many of the first time voters required assistance, and it made for a difficult day.

I hope those getting out the vote are giving people some basic education as well, in whatever voting system their area is using. It could be an interesting day.

[DeepModem Mom]

11. kick