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Coyotl

(15,262 posts) Tue Nov 6, 2012, 04:43 PM Nov 2012

Some Michigan voters endure long lines, others leave polls early

Source: detroitnews.com

Greeted by lines stretching hundreds of voters deep at their respective precincts, Metro Detroiters turned out at polls Tuesday to decide on a host of issues, but problems, confusion and frustration early on had some exiting without casting ballots.

Today, Michigan voters decide whether President Barack Obama or GOP challenger Mitt Romney will win the state's 16 electoral votes. They're also voting on candidates for U.S. Congress, every state House seat, three members for the Michigan Supreme Court, local offices and six statewide ballot initiatives that include a number of issues, from repeal of the emergency manager law to enshrining collective bargaining rights in the state constitution to mandating 25 percent of state utilities' power come from renewable resources.

A long line snaked around the building at Southfield's McIntyre School Tuesday morning as voters went to cast their ballots at the second and fourth precincts.

Voters such as Vanessa and Anthony Morrison came in early because of the extensive length of the ballot this year. ....

Read more: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121106/METRO/211060370/1409/Voters-endure-long-lines-Michigan-polls

Another voter suppression method is junking up the ballot, slowing down voters in essence.

20 replies

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Some Michigan voters endure long lines, others leave polls early (Original Post) Coyotl Nov 2012 OP

We need easier voting not harder. Voting should be easy and quick, not hard and long. JRLeft Nov 2012 #1

If these are Dems leaving early kansasobama Nov 2012 #2

I completely agree. There should be a separate election for all the other issues qanda Nov 2012 #3

It was alright in my corner of the state NMichigangal14 Nov 2012 #4

Welcome to DU! gkhouston Nov 2012 #7

Welcome to DU! defacto7 Nov 2012 #10

^^^^ serbbral Nov 2012 #5

I hope those voters across the Country leaving early were p.o.'d repubs.... icnorth Nov 2012 #8

I live in Metro Detroit. I knew exactly how I was going to vote. GreenEyedLefty Nov 2012 #6

Do they have that City Manager issue on ballot, that alone is worth the wait along with Obama? julian09 Nov 2012 #9

Yes, the emergency manager law was Proposal #1. I voted "no." GreenEyedLefty Nov 2012 #15

I live in Garden City MI MotorCityMan Nov 2012 #19

Hold it together MI! defacto7 Nov 2012 #11

Agreed! The longer it takes to vote, the fewer people wind up voting. grahamhgreen Nov 2012 #12

There were no less than a dozen extra amendments/referenda on the ballot in Orange County, FL Roland99 Nov 2012 #13

No line in my precinct in west MI - in addition ot the voting booths, they also had tables UrbScotty Nov 2012 #14

This blows. 1 hr so far. leeroysphitz Nov 2012 #16

I trust in my home state Shilo Nov 2012 #17

WE NEED EARLY VOTING IN MICHIGAN! Lefty48197 Nov 2012 #18

Voting shouldn't be an obstacle course. LisaL Nov 2012 #20

JRLeft

(7,010 posts)

1. We need easier voting not harder. Voting should be easy and quick, not hard and long.

Reply to Coyotl (Original post)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 04:48 PM

Nov 2012

kansasobama

(609 posts)

2. If these are Dems leaving early

Reply to Coyotl (Original post)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 04:51 PM

Nov 2012

Then Republicans and Koch brothers have won. I don't mean today but from a strategic point of view.

qanda

(10,422 posts)

3. I completely agree. There should be a separate election for all the other issues

Reply to Coyotl (Original post)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 04:57 PM

Nov 2012

Which had our ballot ridiculously long this year.

NMichigangal14

(1 post)

4. It was alright in my corner of the state

Reply to Coyotl (Original post)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 05:08 PM

Nov 2012

but I live in NW MI. It is VERY HEAVILY republican here, there was actually more voting booths than in previous years, I was shocked.

This is my first post and I must say this site is great and is helping me keep my head above water with all the republicans that I work with. AGH!

Thanks folks!

gkhouston

(21,642 posts)

7. Welcome to DU!

Reply to NMichigangal14 (Reply #4)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 05:21 PM

Nov 2012

defacto7

(13,485 posts)

10. Welcome to DU!

Reply to NMichigangal14 (Reply #4)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 05:32 PM

Nov 2012

Have a seat and put up your feet!

serbbral

(260 posts)

5. ^^^^

Reply to Coyotl (Original post)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 05:08 PM

Nov 2012

I sure hope some came back. Their vote is crucial.

icnorth

(1,015 posts)

8. I hope those voters across the Country leaving early were p.o.'d repubs....

Reply to serbbral (Reply #5)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 05:27 PM

Nov 2012

and that at least half of the rest standing in line were Dems who had already voted. These POS are grating on my charitable nature. Good luck America!

GreenEyedLefty

(2,073 posts)

6. I live in Metro Detroit. I knew exactly how I was going to vote.

Reply to Coyotl (Original post)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 05:17 PM

Nov 2012

But once I got to the table to vote it still took me 20 minutes. It might have saved me a few minutes tops to vote straight Democratic ticket... but I really wanted to vote for Barack Obama... and the person running as an independent for township supervisor.

What concerns me are the people stepping into the booth and reading the ballot for the first time. That can be extremely time-consuming, as our ballot is *very* long and the issues somewhat arcane.

julian09

(1,435 posts)

9. Do they have that City Manager issue on ballot, that alone is worth the wait along with Obama?

Reply to GreenEyedLefty (Reply #6)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 05:30 PM

Nov 2012

GreenEyedLefty

(2,073 posts)

15. Yes, the emergency manager law was Proposal #1. I voted "no."

Reply to julian09 (Reply #9)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 07:26 PM

Nov 2012

MotorCityMan

(1,203 posts)

19. I live in Garden City MI

Reply to GreenEyedLefty (Reply #6)

Wed Nov 7, 2012, 02:36 AM

Nov 2012

And went to vote about 11:30 this afternoon. I was in and out in about 10 mins.

I had my cheat sheet listing how to vote on all the proposals.

Now when I lived in Detroit (last 3 presedential elections), it was a much different story. At least an hour and a half wait each time, 2 and a half in 2008.

defacto7

(13,485 posts)

11. Hold it together MI!

Reply to Coyotl (Original post)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 05:35 PM

Nov 2012

It's a couple of hours for years of increased sanity. Maybe it will even help erase some insanity.

grahamhgreen

(15,741 posts)

12. Agreed! The longer it takes to vote, the fewer people wind up voting.

Reply to Coyotl (Original post)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 05:55 PM

Nov 2012

Roland99

(53,342 posts)

13. There were no less than a dozen extra amendments/referenda on the ballot in Orange County, FL

Reply to Coyotl (Original post)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 06:15 PM

Nov 2012

It was ridiculous!

UrbScotty

(23,980 posts)

14. No line in my precinct in west MI - in addition ot the voting booths, they also had tables

Reply to Coyotl (Original post)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 06:30 PM

Nov 2012

(with dividers, of course) where voters could sit down and vote.

leeroysphitz

(10,462 posts)

16. This blows. 1 hr so far.

Reply to Coyotl (Original post)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 07:51 PM

Nov 2012

Shilo

(101 posts)

17. I trust in my home state

Reply to Coyotl (Original post)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 08:18 PM

Nov 2012

to get the job done

Lefty48197

(11,147 posts)

18. WE NEED EARLY VOTING IN MICHIGAN!

Reply to Coyotl (Original post)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 08:43 PM

Nov 2012

Several other states have alread enacted early voting. It's time for Michigan to adopt this improved method of voting DEMAND EARLY VOTING IN MICHIGAN! This should be the #1 issue for Michigan Democrats over he next few years.

LisaL

(44,973 posts)

20. Voting shouldn't be an obstacle course.

Reply to Coyotl (Original post)

Wed Nov 7, 2012, 02:46 AM

Nov 2012

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