U.S. Voters Wait for Hours to Cast Ballots for Kerry, Bush

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=awWxz.jkWRKg&refer=us

U.S. Voters Wait for Hours to Cast Ballots for Kerry, Bush

Nov. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Voters around the country waited in line for hours for a chance to help select the next U.S. president, as independent election experts predicted a record turnout.

Thousands of observers, some independent, others working for the competing campaigns of President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry, are monitoring the voting in such swing states as Florida and Ohio.

``We're in line for record numbers of voters, record numbers of people supervising the process, record numbers of people watching the process and record numbers of people concerned the result might not be what they hoped for,'' said Doug Chapin, director of the nonpartisan electionline.org, which monitors voting reform.

Ohio Republican party spokesman Jason Mauk, sending an e- mail while in line in Columbus, said he had waited more than 2 1/2 hours to vote. In Cincinnati, Kerry voter Elizabeth Day waited an hour and a half with her two children. She said there was no line at her polling place at about the same time of day four years ago.

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http://www.independentmediasource.com/election_watch2004.htm

Please don't get discouraged if you see long lines at the polls. This is one of the most important elections of our lives, people. Remember that "We the people" get to choose the U.S.A.'s course in history, and that this presidential election will have an impact for potentially decades to come (supreme court, arabic/U.S. relations, etc.). Just be patient, civil and tolerant even of others around you aren't. Don't let anything distract you from your patriotic duty to cast your ballot today, and don't let anyone bait you into an arguement or force you to get your blood pressure up.

Keep a careful eye for people handing out literature or otherwise campaigning at polling places and if you spot any dirty pool going on, ask a poll worker (not a poll watcher) to investigate it.

Make sure that you understand the ballot and ask questions of poll workers (not watchers) if you need something explained to you. Don't be ashamed to ask for help. It's important.

Before submitting your ballot, or mashing the "vote" button if your state uses machines, that you've filled/selected everything properly before submitting your vote. This is crucial in states like N.C./S.C. where mashing "straight party" won't necessarily select a presidential candidate.

Call your friends and family and make sure they vote. It's important. Make the time and give them a ride to the polls if you have to.

I'm praying for a peaceful, democratic election this year.

We (Democrats, Independents and some Republicans) want to throw Bush out too much.

The Bush supporters will be the ones to walk away without voting.

<<Before submitting your ballot, or mashing the "vote" button if your state uses machines, that you've filled/selected everything properly before submitting your vote. This is crucial in states like N.C./S.C. where mashing "straight party" won't necessarily select a presidential candidate.>>

In early voting, some machines were selecting BOOOSH(!)
for people who tried to vote a straight Democratic ticket.
Others would select * when you pressed Kerry.
This will certainly cost Kerry thousands of votes.
Don't let one of them be yours.

and my wait, including the actual voting, took me a little less than an hour.

:bounce:

unless they're so motivated (bush supporters aren't, atleast not the ones i know) by love of country and hatred of the idiot in charge, that standing for six hours is nothing to them
I stood in a pretty long line, and it only made me want to vote more

. . . from about a half hour after the polls opened until a half hour before close.

Check out this picture from Columbus suburb Grandview Heights, taken at 9:25 am:



This poll is in gymnasium of an elementary school. When school was about to start, they led the line outside, down to the end of the school, then back to the front door. It was like a citizen's parade!