"Analysis: 201,000 in Florida didn't vote because of long lines"

[applegrove]

Analysis: 201,000 in Florida didn't vote because of long lines

By Scott Powers and David Damron, Orlando Sentinel

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-01-23/business/os-voter-lines-statewide-20130118_1_long-lines-sentinel-analysis-state-ken-detzner

"SNIP..........................................


Analyzing data compiled by the Orlando Sentinel, Ohio State University professor Theodore Allen estimated last week that at least 201,000 voters likely gave up in frustration on Nov. 6, based on research Allen has been doing on voter behavior.

His preliminary conclusion was based on the Sentinel's analysis of voter patterns and precinct-closing times in Florida's 25 largest counties, home to 86 percent of the state's 11.9 million registered voters.

"My gut is telling me that the real number [of voters] deterred is likely higher," Allen said. "You make people wait longer, they are less likely to vote."

Around the state, nearly 2 million registered voters live in precincts that stayed open at least 90 minutes past the scheduled 7 p.m. closing time, according to Sentinel analysis of voting data obtained from county elections supervisors. Of those, 561,000 voters live in precincts that stayed open three extra hours or longer.

..........................................SNIP"

[HockeyMom]

1. Rick Scott and Repukes who CUT the Early Voting Days

I guess they thought that would fix the election results for them. I voted Absentee Ballot and brought my ballot to the Supervisor of Elections myself when the polls were CLOSED.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

3. What do you mean when the polls were CLOSED?

Here in Palm Beach Cty...they had to be turned in before the polls closed on election day.

I think Lee County added a new twist to voter suppression...70,000 new voters and they close 48 polling sites? How crazy is that?

[Coyotl]

4. Obviously, before they opened on election day but not during early voting hours

[Sekhmets Daughter]

7. Obviously?

Here in PBC you can drop off your absentee ballot at the SOE's office during early voting. If the answer were obvious, I would not have asked. I am interested in the different rules from one county to the next in FL.

[HockeyMom]

9. I brought it the day before the election

The polls were not open on Monday before the election, but it was a normal working day for the Supervisor of Elections office. I just handed my ballot to the clerk and she recorded it.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

10. Thanks...

I wasn't quite certain and didn't want to get my facts backwards. We have so many different systems...I wish there were one national standard, or at least one statewide standard.

[Kalidurga]

2. I totally believe that number, I believe it could be higher as well.

What I would like to see though is a breakdown of the people who didn't vote by:

gender

age

political party


My theory which I can't prove since we don't have the numbers is that this may have hurt Republicans slightly more. I can't see anyone disliking Obama so much or liking Romney so much to stand in line for 10 hours to vote for Romney. I think women were more likely to stick out the long lines as well. All the pictures I saw there were many more minorities in line there were more women than men. So, I think minorities understand how much Romney would take from them were more likely to stick it out than white people, but I don't know the percent of minority/white population in those precincts either. I heard they may have made special arrangements to help the disabled vote, but I wonder how many didn't vote because they didn't know that and the long lines were to discouraging for them. So, that would be helpful to know as well.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

5. That's my gut feeling as well... n/t

[indepat]

6. If only voter caging, voter intimidation, voter disenfranchisement, and voter suppression

were illegal. If only Repugs were made to account for their blatant crimes.

[Historic NY]

8. Republicons ought to ask themselves could they been GOP votes too.

[Remmah2]

11. Thank god there were enough people who DID stand in line!

It made the difference!