Be prepared, be patient today

Do your homework, Supervisor Kurt Browning says about the huge ballot with 10 constitutional amendments. That should create long lines despite a heavy pre-election turnout.

[Times photo: Joseph Garnett Jr.] A standing room only crowd at the Supervisor of Elections Office waits as names are called for early voting Monday. More than 24,000 people voted early.

By SAUNDRA AMRHEIN, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published November 5, 2002

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Take a book, newspaper or crossword puzzle to the polls today.

Despite thousands of Pasco residents taking advantage of a law letting them vote early, lines likely will still keep people waiting on Election Day.

"My poll workers know that the word of the day is going to be patience," Supervisor of Elections Kurt Browning said Monday. "And voters need to be prepared and be patient. There are going to be lines tomorrow."

Browning thinks the early voting made a significant dent in what the lines might have been. Under the old state law, Floridians could vote early with an absentee ballot or by using a voting machine in a supervisor of elections office. However, the voter had to sign an oath saying he would be unable to make it to the polls on Election Day.

But a state law passed after the 2000 election allows people to vote early for any reason.

From Oct. 1 through Monday, 10,300 people voted early at elections county offices, Browning said. The number of absentee ballots cast stood at 14,000 -- for a total of 24,300 people who won't be clogging lines today.

That number compares to almost 15,000 absentee ballots collected in 2000, according to Browning's Web site.

Still, despite record-setting numbers of early voters and Browning's mailing of precinct-specific ballots to every registered Pasco voter for them to peruse ahead of time, he still fears lines will be long.

The reason lies in new touch screen voting machines and a long ballot with lots of constitutional amendments.

Browning fears that the 1,455 machines won't be enough to move people swiftly enough in and out of the office. But whoever is standing in line at 7 p.m. when the polls close will still get to vote.

"It's going to be a very trying day," Browning said.

-- Saundra Amrhein covers Pasco County government. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6244, or toll free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6244. Her e-mail address is amrhein@sptimes.com .

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