Oct 26, 2008 11:19 am US/Eastern
South Florida: Voters Pack Polls For Early Voting
DORAL (CBS4) ―
-
-
A shortage of printers used to print ballots contributed to the long lines at polling places throughout South Florida. Elections officials say they've taken steps to ease the lines, which can still be up to 3 hours long.
CBS
Elections officials in South Florida had expected early voting turnout to slow after the initial days the polls were open, but in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, figures released by the Department of Elections said with one exception turnout has increased every day in the first week.
In Miami Dade, 12 thousand people votes Monday, the first day of early voting. The totals increased each day this week, with just over 21 thousand voting Friday. On Saturday, the numbers dropped for the first time with 14,556 voters going to the polls.
In Broward County, just over 11 thousand people voted on Monday, 12,692 on Tuesday, 13,738 on Wednesday, 14,623 on Thursday and 15,253 on Friday. The elections department has not posted the number of voters who went to the polls on Saturday.
In both counties, the Friday turnout outpaced the rest of the week despite bad weather and long lines which often forced would-be voters to wait outside.
Frustrating to voters and election officials alike are the long delays at the early polling places, caused in part by intense voter interest and by the new paper ballot system, which for early voting requires a paper ballot to be custom printed for each voter once they are qualified.
Miami-Dade County added more voting machines to allow people to move through more quickly after getting their ballot, and both counties are providing wait time estimates at their 311 information lines.
CBS4.com is also providing wait time estimates from each county online.
Election officials are urging voters to help speed things up by reviewing a sample ballot before going to the polls. CBS4.com allows voters to use our
Online Voters Guide to enter their address, answer a question or two, and
create a custom sample ballot for their community which voters can take to the polling place.
Miami-Dade polling places will adjust their schedule for the second week of early voting.
Sunday, October 26, 1 p.m. - 5. p.m.
Monday, Oct. 27 - Friday, Oct. 31, 2008, 11 a.m.- 7 p.m.
Saturday, November 1, 2008, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Sunday, November 2, 2008, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
In Broward County, polls are open Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., and Sundays from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
You must cast your early-voting ballot in the county in which you are registered to vote.
There will be no early voting Monday, November 3rd. Election day is November 4th, and polls across Florida will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. local time.
By law, voters in line at closing time will be allowed to vote before the polling place can close.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Presidential Inauguration 2009
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
