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Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Maryland

mcpark: not enough electronic check in machines in Sliver Spring, Maryland. long lines. poll workers are trying to calm down stressed out people. waited in line 3 hours.

UPDATE (from Armetta Parker's Phone):

Here's my experience in Montgomery County, MD Election Precinct 13-47

Early voters took 3.5 hrs from start of line to completing vote. It took me 2.5 hrs.
election workers were going through the line escorting anyone with a disability, pregnant, needing to sit or go inside to use the restrooms to come inside. They let Moms with babies come inside to wait and actually started asking folks in line if they would allow someone waiting to go ahead of them.

Once it started raining they looped the line differently to allow folks to have some cover; this was actually a better option for people with disabilities because it put most of the line on the accessible portion of the building entrance vs. having to separate people with disabilities to get them in.

the hold up was not voting booths; but having an adequate number of e-polling books to register people. poll watchers monitoring wait times convinced the election commission to let the judges use the "emergency" back up polling book. That made total of three and helped speed up the voting time.

Given the number of folks with visual impairment; I'm going to assume they had a screen reader polling station. This was my first time voting at this location( I know at previous polling locations they have). I did see a polling booth on a lowered table for someone with a physical disability.

1 comment:

Pat R said...

i can't help thinking it's awesome that there has been such long lines all over... people taking a greater interest in public issues is always a good thing