11-6-12: Listeners Report from the Polls

Listeners left voicemails on our Google Voice line (410-881-3162) to describe their waiting times and problems they encountered at the polls. 

Update 6:00 p.m.

The temperature in Baltimore hovered near 40 today, and Lauren in Roland Park called in to say that senior voters should have been given the opportunity to get out of the cold while waiting to vote.

"I was a little curious as to why there weren't separate lines for the elderly and disabled, especially with as cold as it was today, it just didn't quite seem OK that there were some very elderly people that were having to stand in the cold or in the really lines. Maybe if they could sit and wait for their turn or something like that. Other than that it was a great day to vote."

Update 5:46 p.m.

Amanda from Kent Island called the ACLU first, and then us. Her calls were regarding what she said was the unclear wording of Question A, a referendum that appeared on Queen Anne County's ballot.

"The wording of our question A is so confusing that I think I may have cast my ballot incorrectly. Question A is a local refendum on revisions to the adequate public facilties ordinance and it has to do with public schools. I have two children who will be attending public schools very shortly and the wording of this question-I wasn't able to vote the way I wanted to."

Update 5:20 p.m.

Justin from Frederick did not express frustration with the lines he encountered at North Frederick Elementary School, but with the treatement of one voter who did not speak English fluently.

"She asked someone to come over and translate and she asked if the polls were in Spanish and there was a lady who came over who, in kind of a snotty voice, was like, "We don't have have Spanish" and was very rude about it. I don't know if you can get the ballot in Spanish or not but that was just one thing I saw wrong that I didn't agree with."

Update 4:32 p.m.

Maryland Morning producer Stephanie Hughes called in from her polling place at the Waxter Senior Center in Mount Vernon to say that the crowd was quite small.

"There's only a handful of people inside, maybe 10, and the lines moved very quickly even though there is a really long ballot."

Update 1:30 p.m. (via Twitter)

Maryland Morning producer Matt Purdy said "Great time to vote right now, at least in Waverly. No line whatsoever." 

Update 12:07 p.m. (via Twitter)

Sarah said "two hour lines since polls opened at Grove Park Elementary in Northwest Baltimore. 20 people in line at 6:15 a.m."

Update 11:37 a.m. (via Twitter)

Maryland Morning producer Lawrence Lanahan said "Just finished at ACCE in Hampden after 50 minute wair. Went smoothly."

Update 10:08 a.m.

Rebecca said turnout was larger than usual at her precinct in Hamilton.

"I waited an hour and 20 minutes to vote-part of that was a little bit of machine malfunction."

Update 9:40 a.m.

Richard from Pikesville said lines were an hour and 15 minutes at Bedford Elementary.

Update 9:36 a.m.

Brent from the 26th precinct said voting took an hour.

"Things seemed to be somewhat relatively unorganized but once people were skewed into line everything went OK."

Update 9:30 a.m.

David from Randallstown expressed his complaints at what he saw at the polls this morning. David cited long lines and empty

machines as the reasons for his frustrations.

"I stood in line for nearly two hours to vote in a very dense district."

Update 7:45 a.m.

Rebecca T. said lines had not formed at Bel Air High School and described her voting experience as "pleasant." 

Mike of Towson said there was a 30 minute line, everyone was happy and it was a great experience.

John of Kent County called to say despite some reports, not every school is being used strictly as a polling place.

“You keep reporting all schools in Maryland closed. I live in Kent County, my kids are getting on the bus right now.”

Update 7:30 a.m.

John was voting in Dundalk this morning and said unlike other places in Maryland, he did not see people waiting in line.

"If you're in Dundalk and you have not voted yet, please do, you have no excuse not to."

A listener called in (did not provide her name) to say she was at the Mount Washington School

and may have to leave because of the long wait to vote.

"Estimated about an hour and a half or two-hour wait and very difficult time parking,

so that's a challenge for me. I'll try and vote later in the day but I don't know if I'll be able

to get to the polls today."

You can call 410-881-3162 and leave us a voicemail describing your voting experience, or send us an email mdmorn@gmail.com.

Maryland polls close at 8 p.m.