While You're Waiting to Vote, Take a Book

Submitted by birdie on October 30, 2008 - 7:54am
Topic: 
Public Libraries
Politics

People are arriving at libraries around the country and waiting in line to vote. Perhaps this is a good opportunity to let them know the many benefits of library usage?

From Deseret News, early voting headaches have caused long lines for some voters and even forced others to make multiple attempts to realize the promised convenience. In Davis County (UT), Clerk/Auditor Steve Rawlings reported that more than 14 percent of active registered voters have voted early so far. That percentage was climbing Wednesday as voters packed into the Davis County Library branch in Layton more than an hour before polls opened at 3 p.m.

And from the Miami Herald, a voter in Fort Lauderdale comments after driving by the African-American Research Library and knew she had to stop. ''The line looked short, so I jumped in,'' said a Margate resident.

At the West Kendall Regional Library, voters earlier in the week spent several hours in line. ''If it would have happened just a teeny bit earlier, it would have been better for all of us,'' said Anthony Guevary, a poll deputy at the West Kendall Regional Library. ``I'm just glad the governor did it. It will relieve pressure on the 4th.``

Is voting happening @ your library?

Comments

Submitted by Matthews Library (not verified) on October 30, 2008 - 12:12pm.

Early Voting is in full swing at public libraries in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina!

At Matthews Library the wait is about 3 hours and the line loops around the building. For current statistics check out:

http://www.meckboe.org/pages/Election/EarlyVoting/EarlyVoting/2008GeneralElectionNoExcuseVot...

Submitted by birdie on October 30, 2008 - 12:15pm.

for the report Matthews Library!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on October 30, 2008 - 1:29pm.

Why so late, why not open at say 9am? Is this an element of US election law that restricts early voting?

I do love the idea of early voting though. Mind you I also like the Australian model of being forced to vote. But then they do have a 'none of the above' box which I think would solve most peoples complaints about the process.

Submitted by Pam (not verified) on October 30, 2008 - 6:10pm.

Well we have had some issues in elections past so EV is very busy in Fla. I've been poll watching at the Boynton Beach Library. It's the best EV site in the county!

Submitted by StephenK on October 30, 2008 - 9:00pm.

While there is a unit stationed at the Galleria Mall that is open during the mall's hours (10 AM to 9 PM), there are also mobile units covering Clark County. Once you get out of the main population center, there is quite a bit of empty land. The board of elections here has mobile units that travel for set periods with voting gear. Considering the number of stops and how much gear has to be moved, a start late in the day is not something I'd find to be unusual. It would be the only way to ensure voting machine security and chain of custody on any single day.

It would be harder to my north in Lincoln County. While there are residents there, the US Air Force owns a big chunk of the land. The base where they actually operate the Predator drones as well as Tonopah Test Range happens to be located there. Groom Lake is also up there. Lincoln County's population is so spread out, early voting would just be a logistical nightmare. I do doubt the little green men that are supposedly up there are voting, though.
________________________
Stephen Michael Kellat, Host, LISTen
PGP KeyID: 899C131F