Yesterday I wrote about my unsuccessful attempt to vote in Florida. I work and really can't spend hours in line, even though I really want to vote for Obama. One congressman is threatening to file suit over the 3-4 hour long lines that many people are experiencing.
I read that some people are passing out mail-in absentee ballots to people in line who can't wait (maybe I'll try this, but isn't it the GOP that is pushing absentee balloting?). Also saw that, at some polling stations, people are being given water and chairs, but there was nothing like that at the 2 places I tried yesterday. Maybe the lines will get shorter after a few days. On the bright side, obviously the long lines are good news for the Democrats.
A local columnist has written that the hours spent in lines say something about this election:
Every four years, partisans get all wound up over their party's candidate and talk about making their indelible mark in history come election day. But folks at the early precincts Monday not only talked the talk, they stood in line for hours to see it through. Two weeks and day early, they demonstrated that voting in this election was something so urgent they could feel it in their (weary) bones. They provided living proof, down those long lines, that there's something about this election.
Well, how long would you wait in line? Is there something special about this election that would make you wait longer?
UPDATE -- You can still online order a mail-in absentee ballot if you can't wait on line. Here's the link for the Broward County order form.