Clerk: Better get in line soon

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080506/NEWS0502/805060396

If you haven't voted yet, Marion County Clerk Beth White offered this advice just before noon: Go now.

"I'd recommend they get there right now, bring their ID and prepare to be patient," White said during a news conference in the clerk's office.

Polls close at 6 p.m., and White said turnout already is looking less like a primary than a general election. Based on reports from precincts, she said turnout may surpass the November 2006 election, when one-third of Marion County voters showed up, but might not be as large as the 2004 election, when nearly 54 percent of registered voters took part in the contest pitting President George W. Bush against John Kerry.

:shrug: Some polls close at 7 EST due to time zones. But IN polls close at 6pm local time.

It hardly seems fair to close the polls before the typical 8-5'ers can even get there to vote.

Something is seriously wrong here.

Whilst disenfranchising the 8-5ers and college students who would most likely vote later in the day...For shame!

but unfortunately states can do whatever they want. 6pm is pretty shitty imho. Especially since younger people typically vote later on.

this is nothing new..the Voter ID thing is new...but the hours have always been 6-6, as long as I can remember (1976).

my whole psyche is already gearing up for the horror that November will bring. We thought what we saw November 2004 was bad, this will be worse (long lines, long lines, intimidation, biased poll workers)

At least in the state I am in we have an SOS who is NOT Ken Blackwell and is trying hard to fix the absolute MESS here. That does not mean there won't be trouble with challengers, poll workers who are biased, or too much provisional voting. And the lines...my GOD they will be unbelievable in every state except the mail in state(s) (if there are any of those for the GE).

I urge as many of you as possible, once we head toward November, to get involved either as a precinct worker or with Election Protection..if you are not able to do that (it is a LONG grueling day which ended for me in 2004 at nearly 0200 hours...almost 7 hours after the last person in line at 7:30 PM voted)maybe you could work at your Dem are/precinct headquarters, answering phones or assisting people who walk in...ANYTHING.

Yeah, it will be worse. If you are on the ground 11/4/08, you will need a Depends and a packed lunch...have resources to call to help feed/provide water or drinks for people in your line..my head is spinning with how bad it will be. Bring a change of clothes in case it rains (Ohio...good likelihood) and extra warm things in case it gets cold.