Is Virginia The NEXT Florida?

By: CBS News Investigates
Topics: Vote Central

(CBS EyeMoblie)

We saw this one coming.

In a state where the NAACP had already filed a lawsuit (which was dismissed) over problems with early voting, Election Day is now being described by watchdogs as "a mess."

Reports are coming in from election protection groups suggesting that Virginia, a key battleground state, is in pretty bad shape, with 20 plus cities and counties already having serious problems: machines breaking down, substituted paper ballots being stuffed into suitcases, boxes and duffle bags (poll officials telling voters they will be counted later), unbearably long lines, frustrated voters walking away. This has some voters worrying that their votes won't be counted.

There is also the broader problem of people being given provisional ballots, NOT emergency ballots when machines malfunction, especially in the Richmond area. This may mean their votes are not counted today. The CBS News I-Unit is on the ground in Richmond at the moment – we will continue to pay special attention to this state.

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by bmdrona November 4, 2008 11:34 PM EST: I voted early this morning here in San Leandro, CA.

At 0630 hrsit was already quite a line.

A pollwatcher checks our street address on his list. He did not see mine and I expressed disgust telling him I have been voting in the last 20 years.

I went into the room and checked with another and lo and behold, he had me listed.

I wonder, why do they have two different lists?; Reply to this comment


by bmdrona November 4, 2008 11:33 PM EST: I voted early this morning here in San Leandro, CA.

At 0630 hrsit was already quite a line.

A pollwatcher checks our street address on his list. He did not see mine and I expressed disgust telling him I have been voting in the last 20 years.

I went into the room and checked with another and lo and behold, he had me listed.

I wonder, why they have two different lists?

Bert; Reply to this comment


by gl2 November 4, 2008 9:55 PM EST: With hundreds of thousands of new voters (Obama''s % is probably big) problems should be expected. For African Americans today is like is getting REAL citizenship. People who haven''t voted for years woke up, registered and are out to make history. This is a day they''ll remember for life: the day when that last, ugly obstacle was removed. More importantly, the children can see possibilities they never saw before. Yes, an African American can win, anywhere. Imagine the difference in schools, how kids can see themselves in those books.; Reply to this comment


by matpat81 November 4, 2008 9:32 PM EST: What else could one expect from a state where the KKK is in the phone book?
No, but seriously, I''ve lacked faith in democrats before, but I''m pretty confident that the Obama/Biden ticket is capable of bringing real positive change as well as a return to even a few "old ways" of doing things that worked better. (i.e. integrity, bi-partisanship, putting the concerns of the people of the nation above selfish political agendas.; Reply to this comment


by george10429 November 4, 2008 9:27 PM EST: Again we see scare tactics and hyperbole to create a story. Most of the polling stations in VA are quick, efficient and the voters are happy when they leave. I only had to wait about 25 minutes this morning - a small price for such a privilege.; Reply to this comment


by noloyalisti November 4, 2008 7:45 PM EST: Welcome to the banana republic of America where we can''t uphold democracy. Or is it the Unite Fascist States of America where we disappear people and torture and spy. Where we have a media that is nothing but corporate propaganda.

Time for Change?; Reply to this comment


by bazza90004 November 4, 2008 6:37 PM EST: Virginia will be if McCain cannot win it without the military...
At the end of the day, whether by lawsuit or even with the disenfranchisement of military voters, it will be a landslide for both parties%u2026 Obama wins popular vote with huge margins in NY, CA, IL%u2026 McCain wins electoral vote keeping almost all red states except NM and IA, but adding PA%u2026 With all the info about obama that the msm has been suppressing for so long finally coming out, it%u2019s amazing how many great ads could be made to coal states, to jewish and christian zionists, to free market capitalists, to defenders of the constitution %u2026oh and palin is cleared%u2026 Don%u2019t you kind of wish the MSM had properly vetted their candidate before anointing him? I was on Hugh Hewitt discussing my phone call with Obama%u2019s buddy Rashid Khalidi the other day%u2026
For more on my phone call and more on why and how there will be a landslide for both candidates go to my blog%u2026
http://scattershooting.wordpress.com/; Reply to this comment