States Brace For Record Turnout

Politico: Election Officials Across The Country Get Ready For What Could Be An Election Day Like No Other

(The Politico)  This story was written by David Mark.

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After a primary season marked by record-shattering voter turnout, election officials across the country are bracing for what might be an Election Day like no other.

Many state and local election officials expect turnout in the Nov. 4 presidential election to exceed that of 2004, when voter turnout hit 61 percent - which was the highest level since 1968, according to the Center for the Study of the American Electorate.

“November could see the highest turnout of my lifetime,” said Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer, 63. “Turnout could be up to as much as 80 percent.”

Arizona, of course, is home to the presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain. But election administrators across the country are warning of the possibility of a turnout tsunami, a prospect that both thrills and alarms them.

Much of that voter interest has been stoked by a drawn-out and highly competitive Democratic contest between two historic candidates. But interest also has been unusually high on the Republican side.

The first clue about this year’s election came in the nation’s first primary on Jan. 8 when more than 529,711 New Hampshire residents voted in the Democratic and Republican primaries, smashing the state’s presidential primary record of 396,385 set in 2000.

“That’s usually a general election turnout number,” said Secretary of State Bill Gardner, noting that about 578,000 voted in November 2000 general.

On Super Tuesday alone, turnout records were set in 15 states where both parties held Feb. 5 primaries. Twelve states saw record-breaking Democratic turnout while 11 set Republican turnout records.

In Missouri, more than 780,000 voters participated in the Democratic primary-a 47 percent increase over the previous record. In New Jersey, more than 1.1 million Democrats voted, a whopping 69 percent increase from the previous high. And Massachusetts saw a 48 percent voter participation increase over its record high.

While election administrators love to see higher-than-usual voter participation, the prospect of a turnout wave in November has many officials biting their nails over whether they’ll be able to handle it. Throughout the protracted presidential primary season, complaints ranging from long lines at polls to ballot irregularities frequently surfaced, in addition to concerns voiced over the reliability of electronic voting systems.

In the Feb. 12 District of Columbia primary, many polling places ran out of paper ballots. A week earlier, precincts across California reported similar ballot shortages.

“During the primary season, there were a number of jurisdictions within states that appeared to be surprised by the turnout,” said Dan Seligson, editor of Electionline.org, which tracks voting procedures and administration. “It’s hard enough finding capable poll workouts for even a low turnout election. But in this kind of high interest election, the numbers just aren’t there. We anticipate there could be significant lines on election days, among other problems, based on what we’ve seen in the primaries.”

Though states have made significant strides since the 2000 Florida presidential election debacle, voting procedures are still deficient in many respects-even after passage of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), which directed the federal government to pony up money to prepare states for Election Day.

In the past week alone, distinctly different problems have arisen. In Pennsylvania, which holds its primary April 22, officials were forced to take down a Web site that allowed residents to fill out voter registration forms on their personal computers after learning that it was possible to use the site to view other people’s registration information, which included driver’s license numbers or the last four digits of Social Security numbers.

In neighboring New Jersey, a group of couny clerks asked the state’s attorney general to investigate voting discrepancies observed in e-voting machines used in the Feb. 5 primary. According to the state’s Constitutional Officers Association, about 60 of the state’s Sequoia Voting Systems e-voting machines produced discrepancies, usually a one- or two-vote difference, between the paper tape logged by the machine and the number of votes stored in the computer’s memory cartridges.

Even states considered to have strong election administration systems have experienced problems.

In New Hampshire, a GOP presidential primary recount requested by gadfly candidate Albert Howard showed vote discrepancies. While McCain was initially reported to have won the primary with 88,713 votes, a Feb. 11 recount decreased that total to 88,571. Second-place finisher Mitt Romney dropped from 75,675 votes to 75,546 (Howard’s vote tally actually increased from a grand total of 43 to 44.) Gardner blamed the discrepancies on problems with optical scan ballots used by some localities.

“Given how clear it was that there was going to be strong turnout this year, states and localities were woefully unprepared,” says Tova Andrea Wang, a Democracy fellow at the Century Foundation. “We know that turnout is probably going to be incredible in the fall…It would not shock me to see some of these same problems in the general election.”

[blkpresident]

Willow49,

It''s your vote, so if you want to waste it go ahead.

[willow49-2009]

Hillary Clinton is and has always has been proud of America. Her undivided loyalty is without question. She knows what this country should be, not only for us, its citizens, but for the world. She has the experience, the established connections, and the courage to make the tough decisions needed to get America back on solid ground. She has promised that if we give her the honor of serving as our president, she%u2019ll get up every day and %u201Cwork her heart out for us.%u201D I believe her.

In addition to her own qualifications, she is in the unique position to be able to draw on the counsel of a successful, former president; one who is still well thought of here and in the world community. Let%u2019s not belittle that. This opportunity may never come again.

Vote Hillary Clinton in 2008!

[willow49-2009]

The issue to me is not race. The issue is the anti-American rhetoric frequently included in the pastor''s sermons. Senator Obama''s speech did not address that issue. I have a hard time, even as a Democrat, being liberal enough to vote for someone who lacks the character to speak up in defense of the country that has served him so well.

[obamasgranny]

From Obama''s website:
And in the U.S. Senate, Obama has been a leading advocate for protecting the right to vote, helping to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act and leading the opposition against discriminatory barriers to voting.

And then he disenfranchises millions of voters,..That is simply UN-AMERICAN!!

NOBAMA 08

[obamasgranny]

Speaking of voting,...
from BTD

Barack Obama is out there having his campaign argue that mail in voting has some type of impact that requires a Voting Rights Act review that could be troubling. That it will take more than a rubber stamp. Let''s be clear, if the implication is this is just filling out a form, then no one would be bringing this up. Even the time frame is not a particular problem. No, Barack Obama is intimating that HE will raise a Voting Rights Act issue about mail in voting.

The SAME Barack Obama who is co-sponsor of the Senate version of this bill, "The Universal Right To Vote By Mail Act", which declares that NOT ALLOWING mail in voting in every state (28 do through absentee balloting) disenfranchises voters, now opposes a mail in revote. I have heard of chutzpah, but this one takes the cake.

[kmccliment]

What ever you do. Do not vote for the racially,bigoted liar: Barack Hussein Obama.

[popstom1]

Even after nov no matter who win''s it''s going to get
diesel is still over $4.00 eveythimg moves by truck
by next milk may be $5.50gal. bread $3.00 mac&cheese
$2.00 then the cost of the nomeless and this is the start

[joyous88]

right on homespunlady

four more of the same McBushCain

republiCONs need to be voted out

[homespunlady]

On the BRIGHT SIDE

- CONSUMER CONFIDENCE is at an ALL TIME LOW - ranging from the lowest in 5 to 35 years depending on the survey.

- Housing prices PLUMMETED by about 10 percent overall in January - depending on where you''re at.

- INFRASTRUCTURE is STILL failing - but as soon as McCain gets in I''m sure he''ll arrange for some CHEAP IMPORTED LABOR to fix it.

- the markets, dollar AND commodity costs are GYRATING FASTER than the world''s BEST BELLY-DANCER.

Physics says if things swing TOO far TOO fast they inevitably BREAK away and fly OFF.

- New 5 dollar bills are joining the REST of our reconfigured currency.
"AMERO" here we come.

[homespunlady]

Anybody hear the speech "no worries" McCain gave today?

The gist of it from what I''m catching is that if you were "dumb enough" to go for the CON JOB that''s YOUR problem NOT HIS. Apparently "bailing out" a failing ECONOMY is ALSO NOT HIS PROBLEM.

Guess HIS problem is ONLY insuring that his campaign coffers are filled to the brim from those FUNDRAISERS IN THE FOREIGN COUNTRIES HE CAMPAIGNED IN.

Keep that LOBBY MONEY coming fools.

[getcentered]

The issue is race, not Reverend Wright. The Reverend Wright is merely a catalyst to spark another raging debate on race in America.

Those who remain solely focused on Reverend Wright want to stir the hate as it benefits their conservative agenda. It plays right into Rush Limbaugh''s Operation Chaos: stir the White man''s fear and hate of the Black man so the White man will support Clinton.*

What Obama did so well was take on the painful and angry issue of race head on. Further, Obama did so in a calm and mature manner.

Most significant to me was the territory Obama entered. Obama took the step that no other leader--Black or White--would take: Obama acknowledged the White peoples anger for being blamed for racist acts for which they did not commit. Over the years the Black community has systematically indicted all Whites for every incident of racism. To acknowledge the anger that his has caused is an important first step in reshaping race relations in America.

For years now, political correctness has suffocated all of our voices. It was refreshing to hear Obama put PC aside and speak with truth about Black/White fears and, more important, the anger each side feels.

*This morning Limbaugh referred to the White male voters in Pennsylvania who are falling for his ploy as "stupid, er, I mean uneducated."

[elichez1]

Ya know what''s better than redlipsahead, 2lipsonanorgan. Hillary ***-on is a joke, a carpetbagger, and Bill in a skirt. She''ll send what''s left of the jobs soewhere else. Sad thing, all the other candidates are jokes also.

[redlipsahead]

The turnout has to be HUGE FOR HILLARY. It''s time for the People of Pennsylvania to Turn Out in Huge Numbers for HILLARY CLINTON. A vote for Hillary shows that America is tired of Rev Wright and his wild and crazy speeches. Vote for America and Vote for Hillary.

[getcentered]

Nitpicking is all the GOP has been reduced to and it''s an example of their own failures........sad example of the state of maturity in our country......

The deception metastasizes as the months and causalities mount...............

The President who was never deigned to go to Dover Air Force Base to salute the fallen who are coming home says no photographs of their coffins can be permitted because that would hurt the feelings of the families. This is false, tragically false; the real reason is that day after day the photos would starkly reveal the price of Bush%u2019s folly.

"The Democrats are just taking a little while to figure out who can massacre more of the Republicans in the general election, that%u2019s all."

[r9119111]

Only if their supporters rally to each others aid. Never going to happen Nazi. The Radical Liberals hijacked your party along time ago. John McCain will be our next president.

Posted by hillaryin012 at 01:50 PM : Mar 25, 2008

Have you looked at your own hate lately? If it weren''t for what the neoconservative movement has done to our country, it might have been a different story. There is no way I will vote Republican any time soon no matter who the candidate is.

[efarris38]

I understand where you are coming from, the GOP really left a bad taste in voters mouths this last few years. I am willing to give the Democrats the benefit of the doubt if what they are truly touting is "change". The GOP led Government has been full of nothing but corruption and failed economic and foreign policies. I am a staunch Democrat as well and also one who votes. Let''s give Hillary and Obama a chance and see how we come out. Eddie in Nashville

[ramos937]

To Eddy in Nashville - I am a strong Democrat. Unfortunaely, I agree with you but I have two concerns: (1) I like checks and balances. If one party is in the WH and dominates Congress, it has asolute power. You know the saying "power corrupts and absolute power corupts absolutely. (2) we always seem to find ways to retrive defeat from the jaws of victory. I hope we do not do that this time.

[ramos937]

In TX, my state, voter turnout was so huge that lines snaked around buildings. This was only for the Democratic primaries. The GOP primaries had only a few souls waiting to vote.

A local political scientist states that this shows a huge dissatisfaction with the incumbent party. He even stated that numerous Republicans cross party lines to vote Democratic. If trends continue along this line, the GOP''s continued existance as a national party is in jeopardy.

[ioweign]

A republican couldn''''t, because most republicans view each person as an individual, not a color. Only the dems could be so prehistoric in their perspectives.

Posted by Hwy71So at 01:33 PM : Mar 25, 2008

Nice try - the fact is the state Republican parties are in bad shape. Will they even have poll watchers ??

[hwy71so]

I''''d love to see a Republican address this subject in such a direct and intelligent way.

Posted by getcentered at 01:10 PM : Mar 25, 2008

A republican couldn''t, because most republicans view each person as an individual, not a color. Only the dems could be so prehistoric in their perspectives.