November 3, 2008
Posted: November 3rd, 2008 06:30 PM ET

From
Voters waited in long lines to vote early in Florida.
Voters waited in long lines to vote early in Florida.

(CNN) – In the final hours before Election Day, callers to CNN’s Voter Hotline are reporting misinformation that is circulating in some of the battleground states, including some that were intended as jokes.

David Ashley, of Florida, called to report hearing incorrect information broadcast Monday morning on local radio in the Ocala/Gainesville area. After a call into WSKY’s morning show about many Florida residents complaining of not being able to vote early due to long lines, a host on the station’s morning show said “that [Florida Gov.] Charlie Crist had decided because of the voter polling crowds to open the polls on Wednesday for Obama supporters to vote,” Ashley said in his hotline call.

When CNN contacted Ashley, she said that the morning hosts on WSKY often use sarcasm during their program. But, Ashley was concerned that the statement sounded factual, and that less informed listeners might not have realized the statement was incorrect about the date for Election Day.

In response to CNN’s inquiry about Ashley’s call, WSKY allowed CNN to listen to a recording of Monday morning’s broadcast. While the host did state that Florida Gov. Charlie Crist had decided to open polls on Wednesday, November 5 to accommodate supporters of Sen. Barack Obama, subsequent remarks by the two hosts make it clear that the statement was intended as a joke. WSKY would not comment any further.

Tuesday, November 4, is the date for voting in this year’s general election, according to information available from the Florida Division of Elections.

If you live in Florida, click here to go to the Web site for the Florida Division of Elections.

CNN will be tracking voter problems through Election Day. If you have a problem or see a problem, call the CNN Voter Hotline at 877-462-6608. See what issues are a concern in each state by clicking on the interactive Hotline map at cnn.com/hotline.

Filed under: Florida • Voter Problems


bite me   November 4th, 2008 2:12 pm ET

Why should he be careful – if those people who are listening actually believed him – do you really want THEM voting for who should run the country?? Probably not – I don't!

GT   November 4th, 2008 6:28 am ET

The radio station should be fined!! Dirty republicans and their tricks. That is why America is in the place that it is in and the Europeans are laughing at us! They take care of their peeple and its time for the US to do the same! Obama/Biden all the way to the White House!!

V   November 4th, 2008 2:58 am ET

Those that make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable. -John F. Kennedy

47yo male for McCain   November 3rd, 2008 10:45 pm ET

He'd better be careful; a democrat will want to charge him with being unfair because he is talking about it. Anyone got a box of tissues?

Phil Newton in Murphy, Oregon   November 3rd, 2008 10:44 pm ET

Given Florida's past election theft, this was no joke.

Don't these people EVER stop?

Hilary   November 3rd, 2008 10:32 pm ET

They shouldn't joke like that cause there are people out there who will really believe it.

NJVote08   November 3rd, 2008 10:06 pm ET

Shameful!!! Not again!

Obama '08   November 3rd, 2008 9:55 pm ET

PATHETIC!

Sally from Cali   November 3rd, 2008 9:52 pm ET

If McCain/Palin win, it's a mudslide.

If Obama/Biden win, it's a landslide!

Obama/Biden '08

Jack Jodell, Minneapolis, MN   November 3rd, 2008 9:50 pm ET

No one should be surprised at a Florida Republican making jokes about people not being able to vote on time-they don't take FAIR elections seriously anyway!

Mike in Texas   November 3rd, 2008 9:49 pm ET

Republicans divide, Democrats unite. Join the love train tomorrow. If not, you can always take the red eye to Alaska with Palin.

Lee M   November 3rd, 2008 9:07 pm ET

Old Republican tricks. They've been trying to cheat in elections for decades, especially in the south, and this country has yet to get over the civil war.
What is strange is that the modern republican party (like the new McCain) is nothing like the old one.
The southern republican strongholds would never vote for Lincoln, the first republican president.

Michael Fisher   November 3rd, 2008 9:04 pm ET

obamas grandmother will be honored tuesday

i promise that

love2succeed   November 3rd, 2008 8:59 pm ET

This person should be fired
And anyone at this radio station who found it funny should be fired

Lorenzo   November 3rd, 2008 8:37 pm ET

Wow!!what a fool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Roberto   November 3rd, 2008 8:35 pm ET

Isn't this a great country where Republicans can violate just about every law and then claim they were using sarcasm and be let off the hook?

How about someone wire the ignition of the morning hosts car with TNT? Oh, just being sarcastic... I'm not intentionally suggesting that it would be a good idea. I'm just making a sarcastic statement. Maybe TNT would teach them a lesson, but I'm not suggesting that. It's the definite possibility of a firm maybe that some unknown parties may or may not do it.

Don from Miane   November 3rd, 2008 8:31 pm ET

Inteligent votors know that elecdtion day this year is Nov 4th. Intelligent people do not pick their candidate based soley on whatever talking head they hear that day. Intelligent votors will not be fooled by a couple of radio airheads. It is amazing that in an election as important as this one a couple of radio idiots have to stroke thier little egos with lies and disinformation. Makes one wonder if they are republicans. Intelligent people will end the republican nightmare on Nov 4th by voting for Obama-the change we need. On Nov 5th intelligent people will be saying YES WE DID. Intelligent people will wish Senator McCain and Govonor Plain the best of luck in whatever they go on to after this election. Intelligent people beleive in soloutions and leadership-NOT liesaGlen, Sean or these two morons. And finally intelligent people will lift this country up and bring about unity, peace, prosperity and the promise of a better tomorrow. YES WE CAN-YES WE WILL AND ON NOV 5TH WE WILL SAY YES WE DID TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK..
Obama 08

AUC   November 3rd, 2008 8:28 pm ET

Pond Scumb!!!

A Conservative Democrat Speaks   November 3rd, 2008 8:28 pm ET

I've tired of Republicans seeking to excuse bad behavior under the excuse of it was a joke ... I was kidding ....

Lock his behind up for interferring with people's right to vote. Since the FCC issues radio licenses this should be easy to do.

Whatever...   November 3rd, 2008 8:27 pm ET

McCAIN /PALIN ARE LOSERS.....

Jacqueline, Indiana   November 3rd, 2008 7:51 pm ET

I think that i am going to shake things up..

GO McCain

***No longer lost in the fog***   November 3rd, 2008 7:50 pm ET

OOPS! My bad! I was speaking out the side of my mouth. PLEAZE forgive me!!! I was only having a little fun. O, I messed up....yada,yada,yada...Too many people have probably [already] fell for it and the damage is done. We NEED people to be more responsible for their actions and quit being "bullies". Tuesday will be for the elections that Bush STOLE from Gore AND Kerry!!!!! The Americans (the REAL ones) are truly SICK AND TIRED of the Re'lics!!!

Ditto   November 3rd, 2008 7:25 pm ET

Easy to stop this, enforce the law on voter fraud. You would think that the law and order republicans would be all over this issue.

PUMBU   November 3rd, 2008 7:19 pm ET

STUPID CONSERVARTIVE RADIOS. WE DESERVE TO SEE PALIN'S MEDICAL RECORDS BEFORE VOTING, WHAT IS SHE REALLY HIDING? SHE IS DANGEROUS, PERIOD.

TheTruthHurts   November 3rd, 2008 7:19 pm ET

These fools need to stop playing games and honor the history that has made people sensitive to this mess.

Lynn in NM   November 3rd, 2008 7:18 pm ET

I was under the impression that the election has been cancelled. The media was given the power to anoint the President this year. They are the only ones that matter. They are now running the country. Gee, maybe we ought to fire all of them since the media has done such a rotten job with the economy. I know they will be able to keep up the military, though. After all, so many of them are willing to join to keep America safe.

Smarter than the GOP   November 3rd, 2008 7:14 pm ET

They'll stoop to the level of maggots

aliou, FL   November 3rd, 2008 7:13 pm ET

Clear sign of desperation.

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