Is anyone worried about the lines on Election Day?

[BzaDem]

This is not a "I think the election is going to be stolen" post. In fact, this isn't even a "I think the Republicans are going to try to supress the vote" post.

But what if turnout hits 140+ million? Are polling places ready for this? Regardless of whether or not the Republicans are planning anything, long lines hurt Democrats (since Democrats need huge margins in inner cities to offset opposite margins in sparsely populated areas with no lines).

I still of course think Obama is going to win; I just wonder if there will be such a wave of turnout that no one expected (bigger than the current elevated turnout expectations).

[Richardo]

1. I don't want the newbies to bail because they have to wait four hours to vote...

...or because the machines go down, or because the polling places run out of stuff.

Everyone should vote early if at all possible :patriot:

[bbernardini]

2. I always go right when the polls open.

Most election days are an in-service day where I teach, so I hit the polls before work. The thought of standing in line after a day of meetings hurts my head.

[Two Sheds]

I did that in my very GOP precinct in 2004 and had a wait...

not a long one but considering how early I got up, pretty surprising.
I'm voting early. I'll still have a wait but I won't have to worry about it on the fourth.

We should do everything we can to make the process easy but if they're swamped with voters, that's good. I posted this earlier in a slightly different context but let's make "the first Tuesday in November" go the way of the horse and buggy.

[LSparkle]

3. I'm a veteran voter (have voted for 30+ years) and I'm taking the day off

I don't want ANYTHING -- including long lines at the polls --
to keep me from getting to cast my vote. I'd recommend newbies
do the same (if they can). It's definitely worth the vacation
day because then you can go home and enjoy the pre-game coverage!

[ronnykmarshall]

4. I'm taking the day off.

My parents are probably coming down to celebrate with us Democrats in L.A.

I'm going to vote in the morning.

[John Q. Citizen]

5. That's why voting early is the best way to help Obama. Stay out of the line

on election day and let other last minute folks vote.

[hvn_nbr_2]

6. I've been worried about it as a vote suppression tactic.

All the talk about challenging voters at the polls: If they challenge a voter, it stops the line while the election workers deal with the challenge. If they challenge lots of voters, it slows the line a lot. They can use this tactic to make lines go intolerably slowly.

[grantcart]

7. No because we have such a huge advantage in "enthusiasm" that

Obama supporters are more likely to wait it out and McCain supporters will give up and go home

[rvablue]

8. I've been warning: Look to VA for major problems

Some of the polling places here were absolutely inundated during the primaries.

Now, local registrars have said they've dealt with the problem, but only time will tell.

Of course, the majority of the long waits happened in AA neighborhoods. It boggles the mind really!

**SARCASM**

[RagAss]

9. I voted already in Florida... volunteered to drive folks on Nov. 4th