by Laura Olson
In a decision coming barely 13 hours before polls are set to open, a federal judge has refused to order Virginia officials to extend poll hours tomorrow to accommodate long lines, according the Associated Press.
The suit, filed last week by the NAACP against the state and Gov. Tim Kaine, argued that there are not enough voting machines in some precincts, particular those with predominately black populations. NAACP leaders asked to extend polling hours 10 p.m. from the scheduled 7 p.m., and to allocate additional machines.
Judge Richard Williams denied the request, but "did order the state Board of Elections to publicize the availability of curbside voting for older or disabled voters, along with the fact that people in line by 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote."
Virginia's status as a first-time battleground state this election has brought concerns about the state's preparations. More than 500,000 new registrants have been added to the voter rolls since the 2004 election, and voters already overwhelmed local offices during the state's in-person absentee voting period.
State officials say the state has prepared during the three statewide election since 2004, and that they will have plenty of ballots and volunteers on hand starting at 6 a.m. tomorrow.
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Comments
Doesn't everyone get to vote so long as they are IN LINE at the time the polls close there? Don't they just push everyone inside and continue the voting? Denying a person their vote is BAD KARMA. Forget about heaven if you deny a person their right to vote.
Posted by: Let's a million democrat march on the problem areas | November 3, 2008 9:22 PM