Problems Prompt Call for VA Voting Hours Extension

clipped from rawstory.com An election monitoring group is asking officials in Virginia to address reports of massive voting machine failures and voters being turned away from polls, and it may go to court if no action is taken. Election Protection, a nonprofit group aimed at cataloging and correcting problems at the polls, says it has received more than 27,000 calls from voters since 5 a.m. Tuesday. Most problems have been reported in Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey and Florida, representatives of the group said. Voters experiencing problems can report them by dialing 866-OUR-VOTE or 866-MY-VOTE1. During a press conference Tuesday morning, group representatives said they were asking election officials in Virginia to extend voting by two hours. The group also wants election to ensure that paper ballots are available in precincts where electronic voting machines break down. If elections officials fail to act, the group could file a lawsuit in federal court, but it hopes to avoid that option.

This is almost certain to be only one of many election day problems that'll be reported throughout the day. This one is significant, because it's pretty much impossible for McCain to win without taking Virginia.

One of the first things we ought to do after all the smoke clears is get rid of these goddam computerized voting machines. If you can't convince people that the fact that they're easily rigged is anything other than a conspiracy theory, there's plenty of evidence that they're junk and don't work. It's not a conspiracy that these lemons are a ripoff.

Like the story says, if you have any problems, call 1-866-OUR-VOTE or 1-866-MY-VOTE1. Don't let anyone turn you away, don't let anyone keep you from voting.