NAACP Sues Officials Over Vote Preparations

[Freddie Stubbs]

High-Minority Areas Affected, Group Says

Gov. Kaine and top officials haven't allocated enough resources for a record turnout, a lawsuit claims.


RICHMOND, Oct. 27 -- The Virginia NAACP sued Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) and Virginia's top election officials Monday, accusing them of failing to provide enough resources to accommodate expected record turnout during next week's election.

The lawsuit claims that the state is violating the U.S. and Virginia constitutions by not allocating enough voting machines, poll workers and polling places -- particularly in precincts with high minority populations -- which could result in long lines and lost votes.

The Advancement Project, a national voter protection group, filed the lawsuit late Monday in U.S. District Court in Richmond on the NAACP's behalf. It asks the state to move voting machines to precincts most likely to have long waiting lines; keep polls open for an extra two hours; and use paper ballots in some cases.

"If they do not prepare adequately for the potential turnout, what could be the greatest collective exercise in democratic participation in our nation's history be stained by government failure," said Advancement Project Co-director Judith Browne-Dianis. "It boggles the mind why officials would stubbornly refuse to prepare for the increased turnout that could potentially result in a meltdown on Election Day."

more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/27/AR2008102702289.html?hpid=topnews