February 5, 2008
Virginia Voters Don't Know When Their Election Is
The Associated Press is reporting that the Virginia State Board of Elections has received over 400 calls already this morning from confused voters wondering why their polling places are closed today. Some folks were apparently unaware that Virginia's Republican and Democratic primaries are being held Feb. 12, a week from today, along with Maryland and D.C.
Virginia voters must be rather eager to cast their ballots. Either that, or Super Tuesday Fever is rather more infectious than was first feared. Do keep an eye on your friends and co-workers for the following symptoms: incessantly arguing about which way Massachusetts will be voting today since the entire Kennedy family endorsed Obama, repeatedly yelling out the interjection "Super!" for no apparent reason, or remarking on how they never noticed just how handsome Tim Russert really is. Eww.
In case anyone else is confused, the 24 states participating in Super Tuesday primaries this year are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho (Dem. only), Illinois, Kansas (Dem. only), Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana (GOP only), New Jersey, New Mexico (Dem. only), New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia (GOP only).
The only other question we have is whether it's a good sign for turnout next week that area voters are already showing up at polling places. Will Virginia, and the rest of the region for that matter, see record turnout, or could Super Tuesday confusion lead directly to frustration, and find those people who showed up today not bothering to cast a ballot on Feb. 12?
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this isn't a virginia-only story, texas has the same problem.
that's what we get for the media hyping a "nation-wide" primary. people didn't catch the nuance there, where nation-wide doesn't mean the entire nation.
silly americans...
Guilty. I'm just glad I double checked online last night, or else I would have been stuck outside an elementary school at 8am this morning, undercaffeinated and very put out.
This isn't the only problem Virginia and Texas share...
ummm... seriously?
What would have been great would've been people standing outside voting stations with beads and yelling to people to flash.
It's not entirely true that the whole Kennedy clan is supporting Obama. Some of them have endorsed Clinton
LAME.
seriously, virginia isn't the only state with poorly informed voters. aren't the other states with the same problem?
Well, at least we know people want to vote. Let's hope they don't vote early and often.
Please link to this story the next time someone in Virginia says DC doesn't "deserve" the right to a vote in Congress because 14 years ago we elected a mayor they didn't agree with.
Can someone please plaster the Va. polling places with large Abercrombie & Fitch posters? Just because.
I heard someone tell a DC crossing guard this morning that today was election day. Didn't anyone get the voter guides? Oh yeah, they weren't sent out. But I too was initially put out for having to schedule a meeting this morning before realizing there wasn't any reason to be. D'oh!
these people shouldn't be allowed to vote. ever.
"Well, at least we know people want to vote. Let's hope they don't vote early and often."
Yes heaven forbid they might vote a Democrat in office and tip the balance of the Senate.
Seriously...while the state may have to take some of the blame for this, the Virginia voters who showed up/called this morning are really to blame. This information is available far and wide and you'd have to live under a rock...oh wait, it's Virginia...
As for the person complaining about no voter's guide in D.C...Really? Are you serious? D.C.'s primary is only a presidential preference primary. Nothing else is on the ballot. Did you really want the BOEE to take the time and EXPENSE to send out voter's guides just for the presidential preference? Pick up a newspaper... turn on a TV, visit their Web site...sheesh...
Younger Kennedys Kathleen, Bobby and Kerry endorsed Clinton.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-kennedy29jan29,0,1618955.story
Have to admit, I was one of them. But I looked around on the net to find out when it actually was and I am anxious to cast my vote.