Posted on 11/07/2006 12:10:07 PM PST by beaversmom
Colorado Democratic Party officials said they will ask a state judge to keep Denver polling places open for two extra hours Tuesday night, saying computer problems forced some voters to wait up to two hours while others were turned away.
A court filing said the Denver city attorney supported the request. A Republican Party spokesman said the GOP would oppose it.
GOP spokesman Bryant Adams said an extension was unnecessary because anyone who showed up at a polling place by 7 p.m. would be allowed to vote, no matter how long it took.
Lines of up to 300 people formed at some Denver polling places.
"This is positively ridiculous," said 82-year-old Jack McCroskey, clutching his cane while waiting at the Washington Park polling place in southeast Denver. "At 82, I don't deserve to have to stand out here. What if it had been 10 degrees today?"
Denver Election Commission spokesman Alton Dillard blamed the delays on an power problem with laptop computers used to check voter registrations.
He said some election officials had to call the central election office for the registration information, which he said added "a couple more minutes" to the process. Dillard said voting machines themselves were not affected.
Colorado Democratic Party Chairman Pat Waak said the problem was major. Party spokesman Brian Mason said the laptop computers were not working at least four Denver polling places and probably more.
"Some (voters) were turned away and told to come back later. Others were given provisional ballots, but they ran out," Mason said.
State GOP spokesman Bryant Adams called the request for longer hours "outrageous."
"Absolutely, we're going to oppose the extension," he said. "All a person has to do to vote is to be line by 7 o'clock," he said.
He accused Democrats of trying to win the election in the courts rather than at the ballot box.
Secretary of state spokeswoman Lisa Doran said long lines were reported around the state, which she blamed on the longest ballot in decades -- with 14 proposals -- and new voting machines.
"Despite the training, some of the election judges are intimidated by the machines," she said.
Jon Winterton, 66, who said he had been waiting for an hour and 15 minutes at the Washington Park polling place, didn't mind.
"I love voting. Tonight is like other people's football games. I love watching the returns," he said.
Up to 300 people stood in line at Denver sites. At one, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter waited an hour and 40 minutes to vote.
"It's actually heartening, because if you're standing in line, that means there are people in front of you and in back of you who are all voters. They understand the process is important enough to be patient and wait in line," he said after voting.
A spokesperson for Ritter said after the legal action was announced that there is a reason to be concerned. He added that the party is trying to make sure everyone who wants to vote is physically able to vote. The Ritter campaign said if extending the hours resolves the problem, then great.
Republican Bob Beauprez, who spent months battling Ritter for governor, summed up the election in a single word: Watershed.
The Beauprez campaign said it was still working to determine the facts of what caused the vote delays. They said there was no current evidence that anything outside of the existing rules and law were needed.
Kinda like Aggie poker.
I think I'll put Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid on the bottom of my feet. BTW, Pelosi has a daughter in Houston, who was a teacher and now works for what seems to be a non-political group that provides art workshops for schoolkids.
OK, I'm finally off to vote!
You mean, you once did? I wouldn't admit something like this in public if I were you.
Hey, why shouldn't democrat areas have extra time to vote. Stinking rat cheaters.
Yeah, really huge blue wave coming. I can tell by all the voter intimdation by DEMS, Dem poll workers choking REPS, calls being knocked offline, Kean's headquarters being locked, shortage of Ballots for Reps...
Then we have Dems wanting polls to stay open for hours.
Time for us to pck it up now! Dems are exuding so much confidence in their actions, so why bother? ::snicker::
Everyone go vote, and if a Dem tries to stop you call the Feds on them.
Yup. I really dislike that attitude.
This is my Super Bowl
I absolutely treasure the act of going to the polls on Election Day.
I voted this morning in between Bible reading and History (we homeschool). I just had to run down to the school in our little bitty town and there was a long line. There always is a long line at our polling place.
I love the lines and I love the whole process.
Now, my adult daughters are headed down on their lunch hours to vote and then hubby votes in the evening. It is a big deal in our family to vote...an awesome responsiblity that we don't take lightly.
Actually, I really wondered about that. My only answer is; selective extended hours allows Democrats to perpetrate vote fraud by injecting additional bogus votes into the tally in full knowledge of how many votes are needed for their victory.
Any other explanations out there?
Of course I did. Frankly I have little use for someone who just voted straight ticket all their lives. How programmed can you get?
I came to my beliefs on my own, through real life experience. I don't just vote against Democrats because I was told to by my parents; I vote against them because I hate them.
"This is positively ridiculous," said 82-year-old Jack McCroskey, clutching his cane while waiting at the Washington Park polling place in southeast Denver. "At 82, I don't deserve to have to stand out here. What if it had been 10 degrees today?"
Waaa Waaa Waaa. Then don't vote, old man.
I know what you're talking about . . . it has a really weird name, for a town with almost no one in it. It's not Gobblers Knob, is it? ;)
You're great! Do you get any nasty comments/"body language"?
Adding and linking keyword, "ratsvoteextentions." This is happening in other areas, too.
Then the asteroid doesn't look so bad..............
Christian news and commentary at: sacredscoop.com ...
have to admit - that got an honest "LOL" out me...thank you for giving me a hometown to list when I try out for Gay Porno Star (under the name "Lance Girth")
For answer to your question: see post #2
well, in our backwater precinct I produce ID, the poll worker goes to a book, finds my name and address, I sign next to my name, I get my paper ballot, use the pencil to fill in the arrow next to the candidates of my choice, then I insert the ballot into a scan machine.
So primitive yet so effective and it took me about 10 minutes door to door.
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