Recommendations to Alleviate Expected Long Lines on Election Day 2008 in Ohio

Franklin County OH BOE conducted a study to predict waiting times for the upcoming 2008 election. Even with the addition of additional numbers of machines, early voting and advocation of absentee voting, the study concluded that the city of Columbus will incur much longer times needed to cast a ballot that the outlying (read: historically Republican) suburbs. For those interested in reviewing the study:

http://vote.franklincountyohio.gov/boe/assets/pdf/2008/general/gen2008-voting-machine-allocation.pdf

OH now allows both early voting and open absentee voting. Both campaigns have been asked to promote the use of these to alleviate the long lines seen in 2004. Here are additional recommendations I forwarded to the SOS in hopes of alleviating long lines on election day:



I attended the Franklin County BOE Voting Machine Allocation Public Hearing last month as a concerned citizen and a member of several election integrity advocate groups. In this hearing the study of waiting times for the upcoming election was discussed, and the public was informed that waiting times would be greater than 2004 because of the number of issues on the ballot. The study concluded that the expected time to vote, especially in the City of Columbus where times are expected between 8-9 minutes (with a range of 4-20 minutes and as opposed to ~ 5minutes in 2004). Even with early/absentee voting, this will cause more long lines on election day.

I asked the question at the hearing whether pollworkers could advocate the use of paper ballots in precincts that see long lines. An elderly gentleman who attended the hearing and who had been a long standing poll worker stated they have been told to discourage the use of paper ballots. I would like to RECOMMEND THE SOS ISSUE A DIRECTIVE FOR POLLWORKERS TO ADVOCATE THE USE OF PAPER BALLOTS WHERE LINES ARE LONG, as a way to minimize the length of wait to vote. (I would highly suggest a STRICT CHAIN OF CUSTODY of how the paper ballots are transferred from the voters intent into recordable votes).

Another suggestion that was brought up at the hearing, was the possible use of an area providing reading material on the ballot initiatives or distribution the wording for voters as they wait in line. Although best case would see voters informed prior to entering the voting precinct but many do not take the time. ALLOWING INITIATIVE WORDING TO BE REVIEWED WHILE WAITING IN LINE will help to shorten the time each voter requires, thus shortening the lines on election day.