| Election Report: Voting Problems |
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| by Bill Kovarik | |
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Crowds of frustrated students crammed a Montgomery County precinct last night while elections officials repeatedly reassured them that everyone would get to vote.
Virginia Tech students at St. Michaels Lutheran Church were well aware that a lack of planning for a record number of new voters had created extremely long lines. Many voters—at least a few hundred—turned away without voting. To read the rest of this article on the New River Voice website, please click here. Comments (5)
  written by Voting fan, November 06, 2008
I concur that any precinct that has enormous growth should have had better planning to facilitate the influx. I'm not sure what the answer would be: more machines, change of location; addition of location(s); some traffic control. However, there's no way that bus-loads could be easily handled, in my opinion. I'm not sure what time period (days/weeks) were included in the June 'start'..was it 'at the end' of deadlines, or relatively evenly 'paced?' However, most everyone knows that, with the heavy influx of newly registered voters, accomodations were not properly planned, in several districts. For VA Tech voters, in particular, there really should have been a location near/ON campus that was easily accessible....no excuses.
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 written by Jason , November 06, 2008
If this was the E1 district of Montgomery County, there was a an increase of over 2000 voters in that district alone since June...why weren't plans made to accommodate those new voters?
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written by Demorcracy Fan, November 05, 2008
'Rush Hour'...what might one expect?
WHY wasn't, for instance, the 'OLD' down-town BMS site used? I disagree that ANY church should be used. Sure, some argue that 'separation of Church and State' is NOT a Constitutional Right (!) It simply contributes to 'block' voters, as candidates visit churches, DURING 'regular' services..such as in Christiansburg...'home of the brave'..(RULERS) I simply believe that NEUTRAL grounds, with hoards of 'rush-hour' folks understanding possible problems (let alone, REAL human error, planning considerations) should ONLY be used. Churches are NOT (supposedly) 'political ground'... Get real: HELP the planning. I appreciate your note, but those that 'didn't vote' probably left, due to the time-factor. I understand. Let's work together, NOT in a frenzied time-slot. Let's start now! PLEASE. Thanks to all, for all the logical input and concerns. report abuse
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 written by Kyle, November 05, 2008
The students at VT and RU made a mountain out of a ant hill. Yes, there were problems, but those problems were blown out of proportion. No one was turned away at St. Michael's. The young lady who was the Rock the Vote chairman at the St. Michael's precinct stirred up more trouble than anyone.
I just hope all these students at RU and VT will be back next year to cast your votes in the local elections and governor's race. Or were they a just a one-time voter in Montgomery County. report abuse
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Why not do what most states do -- allow college students to register and vote on the campus itself? Yes, set up polling places in the Squires and Hurlburt buildings (at VT and RU). Why are we making it hard for young people to vote? Why are Montgomery County and Radford City registrars throwing barriers up rather than taking them down? To me, this is just democracy 101, and the folks in these registrar's offices flunked pretty badly this Nov. 4.