The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
A national voter protection group Monday filed a federal lawsuit against Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and several state and local election officials, saying Virginia is ill-prepared to deal with expected heavy voter turnout Nov. 4.
The suit was filed by the Washington -based Advancement Project on behalf of the Virginia State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
The civil rights group plans a news conference this morning in Richmond to discuss the suit, according to the Associated Press.
The suit says there aren't sufficient voting machines in some Norfolk, Richmond and Virginia Beach precincts to accommodate the multitude of newly registered voters in those localities at the polls.
That lack of resources "will lead to long lines that will disenfranchise voters who cannot wait, particularly in communities of color," said Advancement Project co-director Judith Browne-Dianis.
Responding to the suit, State Board of Elections spokeswoman Susan Pollard said the agency "will continue its efforts to ensure that voters are able to exercise their right to vote as conveniently as possible, consistent with Virginia's election laws."
Pollard noted the number of state voting machines nearly doubled from 5,700 in 2004 to 10,600 this year.
By law, polling places must have one direct electronic voting machine for every 750 voters registered at a given polling place, or one voting booth for every 425 voters whose precinct uses optical scan machines.
The lawsuit argues for voting machines to be shifted to precincts that had the greatest rise in new registrations, especially in Norfolk, Richmond and Virginia Beach. It also asks the court to permit the use of paper ballots - the law allows paper ballots if machines break - and to extend polling hours, which are scheduled to end at 7 p.m.
Pat Harrington, Virginia Beach's registrar, said her office has planned for a large voter turnout. "We adhere to state law and we have more than is required," she said of machines at her office.
Pilot staff writer Debbie Messina contributed to this report.
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
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Question
I think the whole lawsuit is stupid as well. I believe that the elections board are doing everything they can. And we still don't know what the actual turnout will be like on Tuesday. Just because you are registered doesn't always mean you will vote.
The question is will the NAACP proceed with the lawsuit or drop it all togehter depending on who wins the election???
Acorn
Check this out!
http://community.adn.com/adn/node/132703
How Acorn and Democrats Bankrupted Amerika
You CAN'T make me believe Obama had "no idea" this was happening!
Um...AM
Voter fraud can't happen until the polls open. If you're refering to voter REGISTRATION fraud, you'll be hard pressed to pin this on any one candidate. Just because Mickey Mouse registered in Florida doesn't mean he'll make it into a voting booth.
Hey am
So McCain is the one behind voter fraud? He has secretly paid Acorn? and bussed in voters? It is just coincidence that since the Democrats took over in 2006 that things went downhill? Maybe, but only because of the Deomcrats forcing of banks to issue junk loans, or be perceived as racists. Normally that is called extortion, but when it involves "people of color" it becomes a racist issue. Look at the big picture and maybe you will see how troubled our future will be.
What I find hard to believe
is that nobody is talking about McCain's ties to actual voter fraud. Anybody keep up with the news out west? How about the people that McCain supports that actually commit voter fraud? Why doesn't McCain bring the topic up himself anymore? Could it be because McCain has actual ties to voter fraud and Obama doesn't? Do you hear about that on Rush? Or Hannity? Probably not....
seriously...
If this election is going to be difficult, it will be difficult for everyone. Groups like the NAACP insert race into anything and that is what keeps the division alive. The day that we say that things are unfair or fair and not mention a specific race, is the day that we finally make good progress in race relations. While we still have groups and policies that point out unfavorable things (standing in line waiting to vote) and point out how it affects a specific race, we still keep problems alive.
disenfranchised
I'll tell you who should be up in arms...it's the cartoon characters. The machines aren't designed for four fingers! ACORN should have thought of that when it registered Mickey Mouse!
Gertz
Give it a rest, Nobama isn't going to make it, too many lies, too much direct info out there to prove that he's just another far right socialist that will say anything to get elected. I just can't believe that there are so many sheep out there that are willing to follow him.....
CJackCity
That argument is as weak as it is tired. Don't believe every chain email you get. The next thing you know, you will be speaking about the book of "Revelations". Every "crisis" you set forth was years in the making. They didn't just appear because of 2006. And don't forget, the dems aren't in total control of the congress...
It's the last 2
The last 2 years, the democrats have been in control. How have things been the last 2 years? The stock market, housing mess, credit crisis, banks getting federal money. The path to socilaism is paved with our hard work, and Obama is leading us along blindly. I hope everyone is ready for 12-15% unemployment, because when the incentive to work is reduced the work force is less motivated. Capitalism has made this country great, let's not let them take that from us.