CNN

It took me over 3 hours to vote. There was utter chaos at my polling place. There were not enough election officials and they were very unorganized. There were 3 eletronic booths and about 8 regular booths for individuals to mark their paper ballots!

With so many issue choices on the ballot it does make the lines move slowly. Perhaps in a presidential election year it would be wiser to split the balloting, with voters selecting only the president/VP on election day. For that matter, the issues could probably be voted on by email. Too late for this one, but perhaps in the future? Just a thought. The weather in Raleigh, NC is dismal for election day...would hate to stand in it for six hours!

MO does not allow early voting (the repubs in the state have made sure of that). Furthermore, some subtle voter suppression tactics are used throughout the city and other leaning Dem areas. I live in Midtown STL and was at my polling place at 7am. The line was stupendous. I come to find out that there are 3 precincts voting in 1 room with 2, yes 2, voting machines, 1 optical scanner, and 5 places to sit and fill out a paper ballot. The Dem parts of the city always have too few machines. Furthermore, most of us had been sent registration confirmations without a precinct listed on it. A lot of switching lines took place.

10 Minutes in St. Charles County MO – But we use optical scanners and they must have had 50 booths to vote at the poll worker said it had been crowded first thing but steady all morning. And 75 degrees to boot ... what a wonderfull day in St. Louis...

Obama wins MO 49-48!!!!

I got in line at 5:45. I didn't leave the poll until almost 7:30. We need to vote in Obama

We already know Virginia Gov. Wilder was leadind 10-12% point long ago but he won the election by a point. Also, we know Bradly effect. Now my question is all over the World knows Obama is leading all polls from A-Z except few and then Obama lost. Do you think all over the World will find out America is a RACIST country?

Please forward to John King, Anderson, or Wolf can give me a answer to night.

Thanks,
Shameem

This happened in 2000 in STL city. I think the officials knew this year would be even greater turnout than 2000. It's STL city, and it wouldn't surprise me a bit if the judges want there to be a line all day to discourage a big turnout in downtown/STL county. I read somewhere online that 88% of STL and KC would have to turnout (highly dem areas of MO) in order for Obama to win in MO. Thus, why not disourage STL and KC from voting as much as possible? It ensures a McCain win. I hope the proud citizens of STL city and KC city line up before 7pm and cast their vote. Hopefully there are enough ballots ready and they won't run out like some precincts did in past elections.

I was just reading an article about the 2004election in Rolling Stone magazine. With a Republican Secretary of State, people in line when polls closed WERE turned away despite the law against this practice – at least in some cases.
This may sound paranoid, but we citizens have to be on the alert as the vote counting begins.

I was at the polling place at 6:20am ... also in St. Louis county and had to wait nearly 2 hours... to be exact... 1 hour and 54 minutes! It was insane! People were lined up around the building! I just had an appendectomy a week ago, so it was quite uncomfortable! It is obvious that the areas where most minorities live have less-than-Adequate polling facilities and equipment because just like in 2000... in st. Louis... where Kit Bond has a major Hissy fit and refused to let everyone vote... even though many had been in line from 6am that morning... It is obvious that they are trying to rig it again!

I don't understand why we are still having issues with long waits at the polls. BUT- For all those of you who DID wait it out and vote- a HUGE THANK YOU! Anyone who doesn't think it's worth the wait- I have two words for you. "George Bush." Remember what happened in 2000 and 2004.
VOTE FOR CHANGE! VOTE OBAMA!

I waited an hour and 15 mins...got to the polling place at 6:07am. Then got to desk with election officials..and my name wasn't even in the registered voter BOOK!?! (i've lived here for a little over 2 years). One is registered to vote when you get your license in MO.

Then I was told to go to a "different" polling station (I had recently moved).

However, I was finally "allowed" to vote, filling out an affidavit form.. Just hope my vote is counted.

I went "electronic" because the paper feeder was already getting jammed (7:30am)

At least no hanging chads... I went the electronic route...

I live near Jennings in Northwoods, Missouri . I went to the polling place twice. Once at 7:20am and again at 11am. When I returned at 11 some people were still there from 7am and did not leave until 12:30 or so. I did not leave until after 2:30pm. I agree with the board of elections. No one wanted to really use the touchscreens for fear that their vote may not be counted correctly. I did use the touchscreen and I am very confident that my vote will be counted. Even with the wait, I am extremely excited about today and the right to vote freely ;-D

I live just down the street from Jennings and had to go back twice because of long lines.When I did get in line it was about an hour and a half wait. People were friendly and happy so the wait wasn't bad. It helped that we are having perfect weather in st louis!

The problem is some people have to go to work and can't wait in line for 4 hours. Election day should be a national holiday so that people who have to go to work can still vote.

Maybe Mr.Bill Gates will create or has already created voteing on the internet patterns. come now. if they can protect peoples banking through the internet i am more than sure they can protect it from fraud!

This story is opposite of what they are saying here in Missouri. They said the line's were 1 to 2 hours in St Louis and Kansas City.

Mr Clay is a misguided fool most of the time. I live in St. Louis Suburbs and I was at my poll 20 mins tops, I must have hit the right time. If you are in line by 7pm you get to vote if it takes till Christmas to get through the line.

It's the Show-Me state, who wants to have their vote stored on some hard drive. They want to see their vote as a real entity. I live in Kansas City and the 1 electronic machine at our location was not touched while I was there. People are very skeptical of electronic voting.

This turnout should not have been a surprise to St. Louis Country Board of Elections. During the general election two years ago, my mom waited in a 2 1/2 hour line at a polling place just north of Jennings. At the same time, my polling place just west of there in Florissant, MO was almost empty.

It would be very interesting to look at average wait times in predominantly republican areas vs. predominantly democratic ones, to see if there is a significant difference.

One standard national way of voting, with paper trail, is the only solution the citizens of this country should accept. This is RIDICULOUS! My mother voted today in another part of St. Louis and she said it took her 15-17 minutes total, largely due to coloring in all of the ovals on the optical scan ballot, not waiting in line. And, yes, she insisted on a paper ballot.

Maybe one of the first issues Obama needs to attack is a fair, standard, national verifiable voting system in the U.S. FINALLY.

I waited for over an hour before the schmuck volunteers changed the lines and forced me to the back of a different line when I was at the front of the line I had just waited in. I said screw it, "my vote doesn't count anyway, I'm leaving" and in all honesty, my vote doesn't count – as long as we have an electoral college.

I voted in St Louis this morning, I waited 2 hours-there are a lot of issues on the ballot in MO this year. Add high turnout and first time voters to that and it is not surprising that it is a long wait. I know my fellow St Louisians will do what it takes to get this election won!.
PS – On a local TV news report- they said people started singing songs together-so the comraderie is there!

McCain ALL DAY!!!

McCain ALLDAY!!

nice try Jason ... go USA!

I voted in west St. Louis county and there was a 20 minute wait this morning. My husband voted at 2:30 and there was no wait what so ever. Voting will take longer in the heavily black populated areas such as Jennings. No surprise its taking 4 hours.

We have to protect our future and demand our rights as voters and those that hold us hostage. We can not allow them to alter the outcome either way. Let us make the decision for ourselves. Remember one love, one country, one America.

From St. Louis, it took a little over 2.5 hrs to vote this morning but not as painful waiting in line as one would think...especially given the history in the making. No problems, peaceful, everyone was courteous to one another and zero riff-raff. Good experience.

Out here in Los Angeles I went this morning before polls opened at 7am. The line was long so I left and came back around 12:00pm. I got right in and out. I would have waited much longer after work hours if I had to.

Amazing what we can do when people feel good and happy.

I waited for 1 hr 45 min to vote and got in line right at 6 AM. It was kind of cool to see folks, young and old alike, up and at 'em eager to make their voice heard. I felt really good (and sleepy) all day.

I voted for Obama this morning and it took me about 2 hours at the most. But it was worth it! I'm telling everyone to get out and vote today! Unless they are voting for McCain. If they are voting for McCain, then they need to vote tomorrow.

YES WE CAN!

Those lines are awful – we had an election in Canada a few weeks ago and it took me 15 minutes total. I hope people don't get discouraged and leave, it would be a shame if it affected the outcome.

St. Louisans HOLD On!!! We can do it!!! We will stand strong for ourselves and our nation. I have seen the long lines and I am so proud of my neighbors. We must stand together and show how we do it in the LOU!!!! Go OBAMA we got your back!!!!!!!

McCain will win. Waste 6 hours of your time in the slums of the city and vote for your black man loser if you must

I waited for 3 1/2 hours to vote and I was at the polls at 6am. This a celebration day for me. Today is my birthday and I am loving all the people that are out voting. Voters just stay in courage,don't get angry,keep saying in your in head if I don't vote Bush(McCain) will remain in office for another 4 possibly 8 yrs.

I was shocked when I went to vote because all over the country the news was saying the wait was hours, when me and my husband got there we where the only ones in line. We went at 9:30 this morning and we live in Colorado. Thank the gods for early voting!!!

The voting process took an hour and a half in my part of the county- although if you had a last name that didn't start with A-D, it only took an hour, we all seemed to show up at once. I didn't mind, every one was in really high spirits- maybe because most everyone hit up the coffee shop across the street first (although if the lines were more than 2 hours long, that might cause a problem)

After 9 am people could walk in and vote in 1/2 hr. McCain '08

I waited 15 minutes to vote at around 9:30 am

i live in the white republican part of town and it only took me 10 mins. to vote.

my family member lives in the black democratic part of town, and it took him 5hrs. to vote.

I live just outside St. Louis in Missouri. Turnout in my area this year is at least 3 times what it was in '04 and I'm in a relatively small, suburban town. Expect the wait but don't give up! EVERY vote matters, every vote. If you're in line to vote at 7 PM, your vote counts.

Having a voting machine to every 110 people seems to be terribly ineffcient. The fact that people have been wating in line 4-6 hours to vote is evidence of that. I am sure the process would be expedited if they used paper ballots instead.

How is it that we are not prepared for Election Day, knowing that this would be an historic day for the polls and Americans would be getting up and placing their votes!

I live in the County here, my polling locations uses paper ballots and had one electronic voting machine. In the 60 minutes I was in line I saw one person attempt to use it, took her 20 minutes, no idea why. She eventually went to a paper ballot. For the paper ballots a single ballot box with a reader is used, 2 co workers reported that these readers broke down at their polling location, took 2 hours to get a new device in place (These were St. Louis City voters). Voting issues in St. Louis city occur every major election, followed by efforts to intervene to keep the polls open longer so people can vote, followed by republicans calling dems cheats, followed by votes being thrown out, followed by promises to improve the promise, repeat.

I bet if we looked at voter turnout for each polling place in 2000, 2004 and today, we'd find that the ones having the longest lines today had the lowest turnouts in past elections. A lot of voter registration drives were aimed at North County municipalities – and this is the natural result.

Are you kidding, 8 years of bad economy? where have you been? The economy has been rocking since recovering from 911... High gas prices and lack of oversight on Fannie and Freddy have put the skids on this economy only recently (and both the failure to drill domestically and failure of key Dem legislators to heed the warning signs about risky lending are to blame). If you want change, the Dem house and Senate is already giving it to you... and when they repeal your tax cuts, everyone will stop spending and the economy will really shut down.

actually-it has been said all day-you are gauranteed to vote if in line by 5pm

It's good that they won't turn away anyone who is in line by the official closing time, but it's absolutely ridiculous that anyone should have to wait that long. And how many parents, etc. can afford to set aside 4 to 6 hours to vote? How many are willing to skip dinner and stand around outside for six hours at night in November?

Hmmmmm I wonder why a voter wouldnt want to use a touchscreen voting machine??? I hope Faux news starts straight talking to these people instead of feeding them a bunch of crap....their misinformation is dangerous.

Not for this blog.....
Among all the reports of polling problems, I would like to hear what percentage of all
the precincts actually have a problem. I would guess it is very small, and not
in proportion to that suggested by the reporting.

well u know, if ur in line b4 the polls close u can stil vote!!!1

i thinnk they should allow other countries vote justt to see who they like better

I haven't heard from anyone having a 4-6 hr wait in my area of St Louis. (central St Louis County) I only waited 1 hour.

Don't let the reports scare you! Go out and VOTE. Your wait may not be long at all.

Obama in 08!

WITH WORKING UNTIL 8PM AND TRYED TO GET TO VOTE THIS MORNING WAS TOO LONG OF WAIT. i HOPE I CAN GET OFF EARLY.

Jennings IS in the county, not in the city. So, I'm not sure what you are talking about....I don't think you actually do know what you're talking about. Maybe there are no problems in the "republican county" because no of them want to vote for McCain

"We're required to have one voting device for every 124 people, and I have one for every 108 or 109," said Goeke. Goeke also said voters in St Louis County have 25% more equipment than he has ever deployed in an election.

St. Louis County has touchscreen and optical scan equipment. Goeke said that "outside influences" are trying to dissuade voters from using touchscreen machines and that some of them go idle at polling stations.

"It's a shame certain advocates are slowing down the process by telling people to take paper ballots", said Goeke, "we have more than enough equipment available."

Well I'm from St. Louis and I voted early this morning about 6:15 am.

Rob, Jennings is in St. Louis County – not St. Louis City. Might want to check what is typical where.

The poll stays open til the last vote which accounts for some of the delays.

If they are in line before the poll closing time, LET THEM VOTE!

It is very likely there will be a motion by either GOP or DEM lawyers to keep the polls open later then the closing time. Either way if your in line the time the polls close you can still vote.

This is the most amazing day in political history....not only here, but all over the world......the world is watching to see if the super-power will change it's destiny. I have never been more proud to cast my vote for a man who deserves it......Barack Obama. So please, please, wait as long as you need to cast your vote.....our future is in our hands.

I hope that the campaign workers in the greater St. Louis area are out there giving moral support to all those standing in line to vote. Don't let those long lines discourage anyone from voting.

We shall overcome!

anyone in when the polls close will get to vote...it could be a long night.

As long as they are in line by 7pm they get to vote.

I am guessing these are not the parts of St Louis where the McCain folks live.

What is it about elections that the American people don't get. We allow the same voter machine companies to come in and fix their corrupt old machines. Is this the best we can do. I hear we have soggy ballots – water dripping off voters' clothing. Then there's broken machines where we have these same people who has the ability to switch disks in a minute – come in and switch disks to fix the machine. I only have a high school education, and even I have more sense than that. If its happening again – maybe we can have the Supreme Court fix the machines. How stupid can we be time after time.

Wow! 4 to 6 hours? Man, ACORN has been busy. The old adage for Chicago Dems "Vote early. Vote often." Seems true eh?
Meet me in East Saint Louie, Louie, meet me at the polls. Hmmm Judy Garland? No?

Niky: As long as you are in line before 7:00pm in Missouri, you have the right to cast a ballot tonight.

I find it appalling that it takes 4-6 hours to be able to vote. Completely uncalled for. They might think that they were well-prepared and they can defend it all they want...regardless, voters are still waiting 4-6 hours and they have no one to blame but themselves.

Even though it may be terrible, hopefully everyone in STL realizes how important the election is and continues to ride it out!

I live in St. Louis.....the lines were crazy.

As long as you are in line before your polling closes you will still be able to vote.

Missouri needs early voting. Surely these long lines will bring about change for the next election. To require all voters to vote on one day is crazy.

At the closing time, a judge or poll worker will get on line and anybody in front of him will be allowed to vote, however long that takes. Anybody behind him is out of luck.

niky – as long as people are in line by 7pm CST when the polls close, they can vote no matter how long it takes.

what the StL County judge doesn't tell you is they usually have 2 to 4 electronic voting machines but many more people can fill out a optical scan ballots at the same time. so the fact that people don't trust the machines (and who wouldn't trust a diebold voting machine?!) isn't likely the issue.

As long as you are there by 8pm EST then you will be allowed to vote.

Waiting for hours in line versus four years of someone you do not want in office is well worth it.

I, on the other hand, voted for…

Obama/Biden!!!!

~Lawrence in Denver

Sounds painful and unnecessary. Question: Did the the area have early, or advance voting opportunities? If not, then what was the expectation and preparedness?

Kudos to those who have a choice on whether or not to use a paper ballot choosing the paper. Until the machines leave a verifiable trail that cannot be tampered with, the machines are a huge liability. Especially with the Republican party's willingness to suppress and subvert voters at the drop of a hat.

At 7 pm they send a poll worker to the end of the line. Anyone in front of them gets to vote, not matter how long it takes.

I like the paper ballots - it eliminates a bottle neck - there were 20 to 30 people voting at once at my poll this morning. The only bottleneck is checking id's against "the book" and giving them a ballot.

If you are in line by 7:00 PM you get the right to vote. It doesn't matter if you have to wait until 3:00 AM... you still get to vote.

I waited 2.5 hours this morning starting at 6:15 A.M. in St. Louis county (Ritenour School District). Although this was a long wait, they did have ~6 electronic voting booths and ~15 paper booths. I think this particular polling place seemed prepared enough, I just think it's time we caught up with technology and switched to a more convenient voting method.

If we cna keep our financial information online, why do people think we won't be able to use a similar system for voting purposes?

@Niky: In Virginia, as long as you're in line by 7 pm (when the polls close), you will still be able to vote.

I guess I shouldn't complain about my 2 hour wait to vote this morning. Niky, I live in St. Louis County, as long as you are in line to vote by 7 p.m. you will be allowed to vote.

As long as voters are in line by 7 p.m. then they can still stay and vote.

If you are in line when a poll closes, they are suppose to let you vote, no matter how long it takes.

I believe if they are still in line when polls officially close, they will let those people vote, but allow no others who missed the deadline. So if you show up one minute after closing you're not getting in.

This morning, I waited 3 1/2 hours in Jefferson parish, LA precinct 232B. They only had 3 voting booths, and hundreds of people in line. I thought it was kinda ill prepared to have only 3 booths for such a large number of voters, but that was a wait I was willing to take!!!

I don't understand why they don't have more places for people to vote. It's not as if there wasn't enough time to get things ready and they knew that turnout would be overwhelming.

I waited for over an hour and I was at my polling place when the polls opened this morning at 6 am.

Voters, do not be discouraged...bring a book, music, whatever it takes, but stick it out!! This election is too important!

MO rules are that if you are in line at closing time (7:00 p.m. CST), you will be allowed to vote, no matter how late it gets.

Where I voted this a.m. in west St. Louis county, there was a line of 20+ people waiting for the touchscreen machines so it was much faster to ask for a paper ballot instead, which most people did.

Adequate numbers of poll workers but it is funny that every election, the line to check in with last names beginning with P-S is 3x as long as the other lines with similar alphabetical divisions. Something idiosyncratic about the distribution of last names in the precinct.

As long as you are in line by 7:00 pm, they have to keep the polls open for you to vote.

Jennings is the hood

Niky, In most states, the law requires the polling place to stay open until every single person who was on line at closing time has voted.

So, late nights for them, eh?

If you're in line at 7PM, you get to vote, no matter how long the line

Nothing. They keep polls open until everyone in line at poll closing time gets their vote.

Im in oceanside california working the polls. We have no lines here. Wish st. Luis had more volunteers.

If you are in line before the closing time, then you are still allowed to vote. You are not allowed to join the line after voting hours have ended. So, as long as you are in line before closing hours, you can still vote.

Anyone who is in line at the time of the polls closing is able to vote. The line is not the fault of the voter, but the fault of the polling location. That is the logic behind it.

If you're in line by 7pm, you get to vote. That's what they say, anyway.

As long as you join the line in MO by 7pm, you get to vote.

In St. Louis, we must be in line one hour before the polls close, so at 6:00 PM. Otherwise you don't get to vote, but they will stay open as long as it takes to get the people who were there by 6:00 through.

just as long as people are online at the time polls close, then they can still vote

The line gets cut off at whatever the pre-decided closing time is (usually the poll closing time or a half hour early) and everyone in line at that time can vote.

If you are in line by closing time, they must allow you to vote.

According to the law, anybody who is in line when the polls close, still gets to vote.

Niky, as long as you're in line when the polls close, you will be allowed to vote. That's the law, anyway.

Its the most preposterous event imaginable, that after 2 forged presidential elections, no one had the foresight to see that our nation was free of voter fraud and long lines. Eight years ago we had our second national disaster – a presidency bought by the courts and four years ago our court system allowed a group called "swiftboaters" to defame and slander an American hero, John Kerry's war record. Today we have a war hero that no one can comment on because that would be too disgraceful. Democrats don't go that route anyway, but the Republicans have used the most scurrilous and scathing ads that we've ever seen. I hope I'm around to see them get their due. I wish I could understand what keeps Republicans believing they are the better party. Look around you everyday – can't you admit what you see?

If the polls close the voters in line cannot be turned away, they must be allowed to vote.

They won't close until everyone in line has cast their ballot. They're reporting this all over now it seems. Just thought I'd spread the word.

Everyone who is in line before the poll closing time WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE BY LAW!!! That is being reported on CNN as well as Fox. Hopefully early voting will be done in ALL States in the future. Only the McCain voters will benefit if any Obama voters leave because of the long lines.

Iowa Grandma for Obama

as long as those people are in line before the polls officially close at 7PM they will be allowed to cast their vote.

Has anyone seen the movie "Lord of War." One of my favorite lines from the film is when the dictator tells Cage's character that thanks to his nations (USA) supreme courts election debacle, the U.S. can not question the legitimacy of his election.

This is priceless, because we are the leaders of the free world and we can't elect a leader democratically. Good grief. Whats even worse is that we try to spread our own brand of democracy from the end of the barrel of an M-16.

With widespread election day troubles do we as a nation still even count as a democracy?

Stay in line people! We need those votes! We do not want a close-call situation, where this election falls into the hands of corrupt politicians recounting and "misplacing" votes. Leave no margin for error.

As long as you're in line when the polls close at 7:00 p.m. (in Missouri) they will still let you vote.

They vote.

Anyone in line at 7pm gets to vote. This is typical in heavily Democratic STL city. No problems at all in the republican county.

I guess if the voters felt that they could trust the polling places they woould be less concerned about making sure there was a paper trail for their vote.

Maybe, they should have more paper ballots? Maybe they shouldn't blame "outside advocates" for their failings.

Clay does have a tendency to exagerate in these types of situations. I vote in a poor, 70% minority inner city area. Wait time was 30 minutes and everyone was proud to do it. Here at work, the longest wait I've heard is 45 minutes. Trust on the media to headline the .001%.

According the information left at my door – as long as you are at a polling place before the polls close, you will be allowed to vote.

If your in line at the time the polls close, you will get to vote.

I peed my pants in line in Newport News, VA – I was mortified, but when I marked my ballot for Obama, it made it all worth it!

Not sure about MO...but up here if you are in line before the poll closes, you HAVE TO BE allowed to vote.

Stick it out Obama fans in St. Louis! We need every vote we can get!

I'm pretty sure they have to let everyone vote – so the polls stay open until everyone who was in line waiting gets their turn. But I don't think they allow new people in line after the polls have closed.

If that makes sense.

They can vote. You have to be in line before the polls close.

I havent heard the term line-up since Kids in the Hall went off the air. Are you from Canada Niky?

Niky,
They are still allowed to as long as they were in line at the time the poll closed.

In regard to Goeke's comment about people not wanting to use touch screens - I don't either. I'm glad my state (MN) uses optical scan ballots!

If people are in line and the polls close, they don't get to vote. And then they'll start crying about voter suppression...

I believe that happened in a couple of places in 2004... as I recall, they were all still able to vote and it just took longer for news mediums such as CNN to get the results (because it took longer to report them). But I never heard of people being cut off in line or anything like that.

Niky – I am not sure if it varies state by state but I know in some places – if you are in line you get to vote. Even if it is after polls close. So lets say polls close at 7, if you are standing in line at 6:45 and there is still a 2 hour wait you still get to v ote – the line closes at 7, the machines don't just shut down.

But like I said I don't know if that is state by state or every place

Anyone in line at closing time will get to vote. The polls will close after all those in line have voted.

BARACK YOUR VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope we get it right one day soon, so that we can run our voter precincts as professionally as Sen Obama ran his campaign!

Niky, anyone in line before the posted close time gets in to vote.

My concern, and this is happening all over the country apparently, is that there are many places understaffed for the voters.

Did NO ONE see the historical turnout during the early voting in North Carolina, Texas, Virginia? I think more than half of ALL registerd voters in Colorado had participated via early voting. So, there's no excuse not to have extra people available for the turnout.

I'm disappointed that people are having to wait more than two hours to vote. My prayer is that they do wait to excercise their right (responsibility) to vote.

I'm reminded of those who weren't allowed to vote due to their skin color or their gender. And, there was also the dreaded poll tax for those people who weren't "wealthy enough" to vote.

I trust that the people who are in line, or who will go, will remember ALL the people who came before them, who were incorrectly jailed, or even killed, because they wanted to perform their civic duty and vote.

They have to let them vote. When the polls close they will cut the line off. Most likely someone working at the polls with have to stand at the end of the line. And the doors will close once everyone has voted.

I grew up in STL. Jennings and Velda are overwhelmingly black neighborhoods that have long been 'forgotten' areas of the county even though they pack far greater population per square mile than newer, whiter burbs. There is not excuse for these polling places to be understaffed–the crowds were absolutely predictable. The county has once again left the north side out in the the cold and I'm sure NO one is really surprised.

obama will lead america strait to hell vote mccain

My wife and I voted in the morning. It took us about 3 hours ... we were there about 30 min after the polls opened. There were 380 voters ahead of us. When we left the place, there were probably about 350 people in line.

Even though it was a long wait, the experience was very pleasant ... People were upbeat and talkative. Based on the conversation I had, I would say it was 70:30 in favor of Obama

If MO goes to Obama it's kind of ironic considering how much of MO and St Louis rely on Clean Coal technology.

All of these jobs being created by the manufacture of the new plant that was built atop the coal mine are going to go the wayside when Obama destroys our energy capabilities.

I don't know how it is in St. Louis, but in Virginia if you are in line when the polls close you are entitled to vote - no matter how long it takes.

I would love an answer to niky's question.

Depends on the state/county. I believe in most, they will take everyone who arrives in line by the closing time, and stay open until that last person who arrived at closing time gets through.

everyone who is in line when the polls close is entitled to vote. could be a long night!

i didn't have to wait at all when i went to vote this morning at approximately 8 am in northern indiana. i was at work at my desk by 8.45 am. co-workers tell me they only had to wait 20 minutes to an half hour when they showed up at the polls at 6 am.

By Federal Law anyone in line when polls close is still allowed to vote.

Niky – I think they can go to a judge to have the polls stay open later. Atleast, they have done that in the past.

CNN – how about posting atleast one of my comments today?

They have said that they will let anyone vote who is in line even when the polls are supposed to close..

I have heard though in the past of this not actually happening..

It was a 1.5 hour wait when I arrived at my polling location in St. Louis County at 6am.

Gee, people don't trust the touchscreen voting machines? Can't imagine why...

Please continue to wait!!

Barack the Vote!!

From what I hear, polls will remain open. They would probably stop admitting people in line when the polls should close, then let everyone in line finish off.

By law, the people in law are still allowed to vote....unless they illegally turn the voters away....I mean that has NEVER happened in anywhere like Florida or Ohio before.... haha

I believe they will keep the polls open until the lines subside

I voted at my precinct in the City of St. Charles, St. Charles County, right outside of St. Louis. I was in and out of my polling place in 12 minutes. It was better than when there is a school district item on the ballot! Truly surprised I had no wait at all. Kudos to the workers at Null School polling place at 7:45 a.m. this morning!

They have to let them vote as long as they are in the line before the polls close.

typically a monority democratic voting area. no suprise stl is a racist city. i hope they can fix the problem

You can vote as long as you are in line by the time the polls close.

So go vote!

i voted for mccain because he said he would bankrupt the coal fields

by law they're suppose to let them vote. ALL who are in lines..

It's about time we changed our way of casting a ballot.
FOR ALL ELECTIONS:

1) we should limit the LENGTH of TIME candidates are allow to campain. – 6 to 9 months IS ENOUGH !
2) we should allow 2 days for voting- that way positive eligibility can be AND SHOULD BE determined
3) We should limit the amount of advertising money a candidate can spend on both the print and video medias
4) we should limit tTIME and the AMOUNT OF COVERAGE by the TV medias.

GO MCCAIN/PALIN!!!!!!

If you are in line when the polls close, you have the right to vote.

NIKY,

AS LONG AS THOSE PEOPLE WERE IN LINE BEFORE CLOSING TIME LAW STATES THAT YOU HAVE TO LET THEM VOTE.

MY QUESTION IS, IS MISSOURI ONE OF THOSE STATES WITH NO EARLY VOTING PROCEDURE. THAT IS GOING TO BE A NIGHTMARE.

ME AND MY KIDS ARE GOING TO THE MOVIES.

if your still in line b4 the closing time, you will get to vote. 4-6 hours is less than 4-8 years

Never doubt the Bible again... It is really happening here and now:

.. “And in the land shall rise the son of Cain” From the north The Deceiver[Palin] a known Beast of false witness, will take the mark of Cain.
Together they seek to spread fear and invoke hate among the refugees of sin.
In their quest for power they will ignore the light of truth shining on the deeds and words they proclaim.
But take heart, for throughout the land the seekers of light shall rise up and not be fooled. With their strength, the mark [Cain] will be cleansed from the earth and no longer hold power to sway the blind.

Can I get an amen...?

They said as long as you're in the line by the time the poll closes, you're still eligible to vote. So if you're poll closes at 7:00pm, if you get in line at 7:01pm, they're going to turn you around. So just be in line by 7:00.

UNACCEPTABLE.

Its worth it.
If you can wait overnight to get an iPhone or a thanksgiving deal, you can do so to contribute for the nation.

I hope people don't give up! Hang in there, and make your vote count!

I think if you are in line when polls close they will allow you to cast your ballot.

Maybe if the democrats weren't dragging in every bum they find sleeping on the park benches and exchanging a pack of cigarettes for a vote the lines wouldn't be so long.

Niky: If you're in line when the polls close they must allow you to vote no matter how long it takes.

Niky – anyone in line at that time is entitled to vote and they have to keep polls open until they do.

LIBERAL NAZI BLOGGERS ON PATROL

FREE SPEECH IS NOW VERBOTTEN

Don't be discouraged. Stay in Line. Stay and Vote. America is counting on you!!!!

if your in line, you will still get to vote, it's federal law they have to let you vote.

I live in South St. Louis County, Missouri.

I *literally* just now got back from voting (Obama btw. Suck it Reps.)
Anyways, I used the electronic voting machine again this year… and the one I was at, and the one next to it, NEITHER were printing a paper trail for the selections. I had the people change out the drums and everything, and they said it must have been happening ALL MORNING!!

This even happened in the primaries earlier when I voted for Obama and it showed up as Mitt Romney…. "somehow".

I am on the phone with Election Protection as I type this.

Wow. Election reform. NOW.

I am 23, and am tired of having my voice silenced. It is my generation that has to die for the profit of politicians after all.

I hope none of those people waiting in line for hours are losing pay they need to feed their families in order to exercise their Constitutional right. I also hope nobody had to leave the line and give up their right to vote in order to keep a job. This is America, can't we do better than an invisible poll tax in the form of lost wages for people who may not be able to afford it?

ouch, I got to my local polling location 45 minutes before they opened and was the 20th person in line. By the time they opened the doors there were already 200 people behind me at 7am, I was done by 7:10. I applaud those people who are not only able, but willing to wait 6 hours.

It never ceases to amaze me how every 4 years we can peacefully elect new leaders. There's some countries I'd fear for my life to have to stand in line for 6 hours to vote.

The state of Missouri needs to come into the 21st century and have EARLY VOTING!! That would lessen the lines in the urban areas of Kansas City and St. Louis where most of the voters live.

TELL YOU WHAT, WHY DON'T YOU GO BACK & VOTE TOMORROW!!!!

BARACK NOW ITS YOUR TURN TO GET EITHER THE GLORY OR TRASHED.......

2012

Thats right make them count every vote the old fashioned way.

Paper and Pen!!!!!

Not Now
Not this time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

53 minutes wait in mid-town New York City this morning
not a McCain-Palin fan in sight,We were making jokes about
Bush and Palin as we waited, Great time!
"Question: What will Bush put in his Presidential Library"?
Answer: "Toilet Paper". jokes like that.

Any republicans trying to steal the votes there? Or suppress the minorities?

Always happens.

Please wait, read the Bible, browse your Iphone, Instant message your Friends or Family, Listen to some music, talk to your responsible fellow Americans in the line ... But Please wait and vote for the only real person in this election : Sir. Barack Obama (2008 -16)
I want to see McCain's face after this election.. He lost this election and he lost his respect also with it ..with all the negative campaigning and scams

Palin said, "I hope, pray, believe I will be able to wake up as vice president elect."

I think she needs a box of tissue before she falls asleep after a heavy loss

I live in St. Louis. I had no problems at my polling place this morning. It was early and the lines were long but I voted a paper ballot (my choice) and was out of there in less than an hour. There appeared to be plenty of staff available to handle the situation.

How could a voting place be understaffed to handle the crowds. News flash, they didn't just decide last night that everyone in the United States would be voting today. This election has been going on for months and places like St. Louis aren't prepared for the crowd of votes. Unbelievable. Who are the stupid people running these poles. There is no excuse for these things happening, why don't they have more machines and workers.

For our country's sake, I hope they have the patience to stand in line until their vote is counted. Every vote will count, especially in states like Missouri, where it will be close.

I think they should abolish the Electoral College. I dont understand how the voice of the people can be heard if it goes by a majority rules on a staate to state basis..If we could hear each individual voice then it would be an election of the popular vote. Even our election process is sensored.

What happens if polls close and there are still huge line-ups?

Hang in there people! It is a sacrifice that will be well worth it at the end of the day. Thank god, I was in and out in a little over an hour despite a slight glitch with one of the machines.