two-and-a-half hours...

[javasaurus]

Can anybody explain to me why many districts have voters popping in and out of the voting booths in 10 minutes or less, but election after election our district has people waiting in line for hours?

We used to vote at a large church down the street, and spent three to four hours in line. Our district was split, and so today we only stood in line for two-and-a-half hours. Most of it outside. With occassional spitting rain. At least it was an autumn chill, not a wintery breeze.

Is there any legitimate reason for this stupidity? (meaning the inadequate resources in some areas, not the standing in line waiting)

Comments

[dashrippington.livejournal.com]

In my case I was in and out in 5 minutes... and it had everything to do with Geography and even possibly some favoritism thrown in as well.

Basically, if you lived on one side of the street, no line. But if you came from town or the other side of the street... the line went out the front door.

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

Money.

seriously. Prince George's county is, relatively speaking, flat broke. Polling places may be cheap, and so are volunteers, but the machines these days aren't. additionally, there's a lot of bureaucracy involved in redistricting things (and a lot of politics, to boot), and that also costs money and time that the county simply hasn't (or won't) allocate.

it's the sort of thing a county begs the state for money to pay for, but the whole state is like that.

[skimbells.livejournal.com]

don't know if it will help much, but we went early this morning (in western fairfax county, va) and it took an hour

[cozit.livejournal.com]

Part is the county. Part is geography (and how recently they've figured out how many houses/voters are now in an area if it's been being developed). Part is how many people who actually *vote* live there.

The combination of the three make my place very, very fast. (OK, probably doesn't hurt that I *know* that my family is the only one with our last name, despite it not being *that* uncommon a name, with someone in the next voting place over also having it... they leave me be after pointing me here and there, so it's fast)

I know, however, that if a larger percentage of folks in my precinct showed up, the line would be longer. Even so, I doubt it could get as bad as what I'm hearing from many... even DH voting around 8:30 this morning didn't have much of a line... and no parking problems at all.

Heck, even the last minute vote swaying attempts didn't happen tonight..... the belief is that the rain scared the few away (not a general happening in the past, but...)... and there were only a few during rush hour this morning from what I hear from DH and neighbors.