NAACP sues Virginia governor over Election Day preparations
Watch Dan Lothian's report about the Virginia lawsuit.
(CNN) - The Virginia branch of the NAACP sued Gov. Tim Kaine and state election officials on Monday, claiming that the state is "inadequately prepared" for the record number of voters expected to turn out in next week's presidential election.
The complaint, filed Monday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Richmond, says state officials have not set up enough polling sites to keep up with the turnout.
"The allocation of polling place resources is plainly irrational, non-uniform and likely discriminatory," the suit states.
It cites the 2004 presidential election, arguing that too few polling places in Virginia at the time led to long lines and forced some voters to turn away.
"To adhere stubbornly to inadequate levels of resources in the face of the increased registration and increased turnout will result in a meltdown on Election Day," the suit says. "Voters will face even longer lines than existed in 2004, and many more voters will lose their right to vote in this Presidential election than in the last."
Kaine's office confirmed receiving the lawsuit Monday, saying Virginia's Board of Elections will respond to it in court.
Kaine is "confident that the Board of elections is taking the appropriate steps to mitigate lines on Election Day," said Delacey Skinner, a spokeswoman for the governor.
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voting day should be declared a national holiday where EVERYONE gets the day off work to vote.
Is the Governor of Virginia perpetuating a criminal act against the American right to a free vote under reasonable voting conditions ?Surely, individual lawsuits can be perpetuated against intransigence to address this issue in any reasonable manner? Can steps alleged to have been taken, and by those like him elsewhere (eg Colorado) be examined by the media more closely and on a daily basis ?
This is why early voting should be done in every state,period.
Our goverment asks us to vote, to use our proud American democracy to make life better for all, then they don't give us the tools we need to make that happen. What is up with that?
FIX THE PROBLEM VIRGINIA!!
NAACP is doing the correct thing. This is NOT a racial thing. This problem impacts Blacks, Whites, Asians, and Latino Americans. NAACP is right to throw down the gauntlet now, and NOT wait for disaster to happen on November 4th.
You don't need to be a prophet to know 2008 General Election will be a disaster. Not when you know it was a disaster in 2004 with significantly less voter registered at that time. Compound the obvious increase in 2008 registered voters with no real significant improvements since 2004, and its clear Virginia has a "perfect storm" brewing.
I really like Tim Kaine but somebody needs get his attention to the seriousness of the matter. Our seniors cannot stand in line very long. And a lot of people can't afford 4-to-5 hours to stand in line.
you better watch why senator mcCain is still thinking of a come back surprise, he is only, and only counting on the racial divide of america, and the majority of american can't stand to see a black president, way to og senator, more divide more hate , more racial slurs,, just say be man enough Mr. mavrick, if you really a maverick, than just say no way for a black president othewise where this enthusiastic pumping fist is all about, not a single ioottaaaa sto show that you have a chance, we can see the true face behind the mask
TO EVERYONE IN VIRGINIA AND COUNTRY WIDE
PLEASE VOTE ANYTIME BETWEEN NOW AND THE TIME YOUR STATE POLLS CLOSE ON THE NIGHT OF NOVEMBER 4. IF YOU HAVE TO WAIT TIL NOVEMBER BE SURE YOU ARE IN LINE BEFORE YOUR POLLS CLOSE-IF YOU ARE IN LINE YOU STILL GET TO VOTE, BUT NO OTHER VOTERS CAN COME IN WHEN THE PRECINCTS REACH THEIR CLOSING HOUR.
TAKE YOUR TIME WHEN FILLING IN THE BUBBLES, PUNCHING THE CARDS, SWIPING THE CARDS, and TOUCHING THE SCREENS. DON'T GIVE YOUR STATE ONE REASON AT ALL TO CRY FOUL WHEN IT COMES TO COUNTING EVERY SINGLE VOTE.
DON'T LET YOUR STATE COME TO A TIE VOTE. WE WANT TO KNOW ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AS SOON AS WE CAN WHO OUR NEXT PRESIDENT IS GOING TO BE.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WHOMEVER YOUR CANDIDATE IS
GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!!!!!
Does it surprise ANYONE that the republicans in charge are trying to suppress voters?? I mean seriously.
Now is this not funny. The NAACP sueing an Obama supportor in Democratic Governor Kaine.....in fact one of his strongest supporters. Hilarious.
Sometimes we can be our worst enemy. Now my take on this is that the NAACP shuold have been on top of this WAY before today. Come on people let's unite. Work with them do not irrate the people. I blive that is too ( filing the suit against VA) adds to suppressing the vote. VIRGINIANS know what to do in Voting.
Work with OBAMA, NAACP not against him.
Thank you.
Get up and go vote early. NOW. Don't wait until Nov.4th. Just like Obama, said, "You could get in an accident before Nov.4th or get sick or whatever". So go vote now and don't wait until Nov.4th. If you know there are few resources, use what is available now and avoid a long wait on Nov.4th.
Already threating their "CIVIL RIGHTS" have been violated. Lordy I can hear it now if McCain pulls this out with the help of the American people.
NAACP, could you have waited any longer to do this deed? Junk again.
The organization may have a valid arguement. How can you have the same facilities with increased expected numbers.
make sure every vote count this time.Please I beg you governor to do whatever for your party to take over the whitehouse by allowing many poll stations to be open befoe election which is crucial this time.
Change is all we need governor and I know you want it too.
Obama/Biden 08
i can only hope that virginia is ready for what is about to happen. I promised myself that no matter what happens on november 4 ill vote, for change!
DEAR VIRGINIA GOVERNOR TIM KAINE. HERE IS A SUGGESTION TO YOUR STATE'S LOOMING 2008 GENERAL ELECTION DEBACLE.
In rich counties like Arlington, Alexandria, and Fairfax where the district precincts seems to always have enough working voting machines and the voters get in and out with ease; try letting voters from poorer districts with fewer working machines have access to those machines to cast their votes.
This is done a couple ways. Either generate a supplemental voting access list where voters from crowded districts can gain access to voting machines in other districts; or just move some of the voting machines from Arlington, Alexandria, and Fairfax county districts to districts in other counties where the lines are traditionally longer.
P.S. . . I’m not taking any consultant fees for this service. Consider this 'pro bono' for a pretty decent governor.
i really don't understand why these people won't just put more voting machines out. they knew this election was going to wtiness ridiculous turnout and still they did nothing to prepare for it. it's just criminal.
the country belongs to the people
lets take it back from them
How can America claim to be a beacon of democracy for the world when we continue to suppress access to vote the voting booth?
Why didn't they do EARLY VOTING? Duh!
Maybe Virginia isn't smart enough to do the math and figure it out. Is that the "real" Virginia or the "stupid" Virginia???
mitigate lies does not equal supressing votes
stop them from stealing it
Doing everything to limit the swelling numbers of OBAMA/Biden supporters?
so many people are eyeballing democrats as sinless angels, and obama as the saviour messiah. all the people that vote for nobama are goin to rue the day that they voted for him, just wait and see, he aint goin to be what everybody expected.
Isn't Tim Kaine a huge Obama fan? Like almost his running mate?
Surely he'll make sure there is equity in voting...