Georgia residents wait up to 8 hours to vote early

[techs]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200..._on_el_pr/early_voting

Ga. residents wait up to 8 hours to vote early

ATLANTA ? Georgia residents packed polling places as early voting started in earnest this week, braving lines as long as eight hours to cast ballots and forcing some voting sites to stay open deep into the night.

Polls have been open in Georgia since Sept. 22, but dozens more opened this week as part of a statewide strategy to ease the crunch on Election Day. The advance voting sites will be open every day through Friday.

The new system has been popular: About 200,000 voters cast their ballots on Monday alone. They're among 1.2 million people, more than 20 percent of the state's 5.6 million registered voters, who have voted early so far. The votes won't be counted until Election Day.



Wow. Eight hours in line to vote? On the one hand I am impressed with the effort people are putting out to vote. On the other hand, WTF? No one should have to wait 8 hours to vote.

 

[Demo24]

They should have gone much earlier. I went over a week ago and had no wait. Walked in did my paper work, grabbed my little electronic card, and then got right on a machine. Took 5 minutes.

 

[StageLeft]

Early voting stats

 

[Capt Caveman]

They don't have absentee balloting?

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: DEMO24
They should have gone much earlier. I went over a week ago and had no wait. Walked in did my paper work, grabbed my little electronic card, and then got right on a machine. Took 5 minutes.

Depends on where you are. In Fulton, we couldn't vote until yesterday.

I went today and the lines were ridiculous. I'm going to give it a day or two and try again.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
They don't have absentee balloting?

I'm sure there is. Early voting is not a replacement for absentee ballots (which need to be applied for).

 

[techs]

It just occurred to me that with early voting the weather on election day could be a big factor. Since Obama is way ahead in early voting, some would say because Democrats and African-Americans are trying to make sure they can vote, that if a state has really bad weather like a snowstorm over major voting areas, that would GREATLY help Obama by keeping the election day voting down.

 

[techs]

Interesting graph:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com...76113_88285877d0_o.png

What do the three states, Georgia, Louisiani and North Carolina, that have already exceeded their early voting numbers of 2004 have in common?

 

[alien42]

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: DEMO24
They should have gone much earlier. I went over a week ago and had no wait. Walked in did my paper work, grabbed my little electronic card, and then got right on a machine. Took 5 minutes.

Depends on where you are. In Fulton, we couldn't vote until yesterday.

I went today and the lines were ridiculous. I'm going to give it a day or two and try again.

Fulton County has had three voting places open since Sept 22. they just extended the hours and added new places this week.

 

[jpeyton]

High turnout = bad news for Sidney

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: alien42

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: DEMO24
They should have gone much earlier. I went over a week ago and had no wait. Walked in did my paper work, grabbed my little electronic card, and then got right on a machine. Took 5 minutes.

Depends on where you are. In Fulton, we couldn't vote until yesterday.

I went today and the lines were ridiculous. I'm going to give it a day or two and try again.

Fulton County has had three voting places open since Sept 22. they just extended the hours and added new places this week.

Well then, it appears I'm severely misinformed. I wasted a lot of time then.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
They don't have absentee balloting?

I'm sure there is. Early voting is not a replacement for absentee ballots (which need to be applied for).

He's a caveman for a reason

 

[Farang]

I wish I could get more details on the demographics of that new poll showing McCain up by only 1 in Georgia. If it has the black turnout at less than 30% he is toast.

 

[bamacre]

I voted early in a predominately black neighborhood, and it took maybe 3 minutes. Of course my state will go for McCain.

I voted for Baldwin, but they had me use a Diebold machine, so who knows who I really voted for.

 

[Ozoned]

Originally posted by: techs
Since Obama is way ahead in early voting.

Really? I have read that the voting is slpit fairly even between the socialists and the racists.