This truly is outrageous ... as some one in line behind us noted when we were
in line this morning, it is voter suppression by incompetence. Anyone at all
knowledgeable about how the redistricting affected Seward and the many, many
voters in the redistricted area KNEW this would happen. Many of us expressed
that concern earlier in the year, even to the poll workers at the primary held
at Seward Square. Their response basically was to tell us they were used to
the vote being held there and that there'd be no problem! One poll person
today said something along the lines of "oh, well, there are a lot of people
who want to vote." What was missing from the brains of those who made this
decision is the recognition that that building was not suitable for the
hundreds and hundreds more voters it would have, that as a densely populated
area containing first-time student voters and new citizens, there would be a
lot of first-time registers to be performed, and that an efficient method was
needed to resolve these issues --- not to mention the Neighbors waited in line
over 2 hours (and that those who live in Seward Towers East, which had been a
polling place) had to leave there to vote, although others (apparently many
fewer) did. I was lucky that someone let me take their space as I had to get to
the U for a dental appointment, but my partner waited over 2 hours in
conditions that definitely would have garnered a fire-hazard charge. To top
all that, when you did get to the actual voting desks, not all were being used.
Having two lines (as usually done at the Towers) would have facilitated the
vote greatly ... registered could have been in one line, getting in and out
quickly, and the to-be-registered in another, which would have resulted in all
voting tables being used and no one having to wait so long in the cold and rain
(and especially the elderly, those with children, those with disabilities).
This is unconscionable! (P.S. KARE11 was called, but not sure if anyone
showed up.)