Nov 4, 2008 6:31 am US/Eastern
Tri-State Officials Ready For The Voting Rush
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Overall, some 27 million votes have already been cast in 30 states as of this weekend. (File)
AP/AP
There has been an overwhelming number of votes cast for Tuesday's big election in states that offer early voting. In the battleground state of Ohio, voters waited in long lines on Monday morning – only doing so because they expect the lines to be even longer Tuesday.
Overall, some 27 million votes have already been cast in 30 states as of this weekend.
So are local election officials ready for Tuesday's mass of voters?
CBS 2's Sean Hennessey decided to find out.
For the past few days Mihai Lungu and his partner have been moving non-stop, in charge of loading voting machines at polling locations.
"I moved more machines in this election than last election and ten years ago. I moved a lot of machines," Lungu tells CBS 2.
With more than 700,000 new voters having registered since January, it'll be all hands on deck come Tuesday.
New Yorkers will be using some 8,800 voting machines that'll be overseen by more than 30,000 election day employees.
On Monday, dozens of Election Day troubleshooters got a briefing as the city says it's ready.
"We've tried to prepare for every possible contingency," says Marcus Cedarqvist of the New York City Board of Elections.
Cederqvist says if you're looking to avoid long lines, vote during off-peak times and remember all precincts are broken up into different Assembly and election districts.
"If they know their Assembly district and their election district, they'll know specifically which machine to go to. That'll save some time waiting in lines," he says.
In New Jersey, Gov. Jon S. Corzine is confident every vote will be counted in an election that could have the highest voter turnout in 44 years.
"The only way they won't be counted is if people don't show up," Corzine says.
And Connecticut election bosses don't think that'll be a problem, given the intense interest this year.
"We have more than 300,000 registered voters since January, which is a record," says Conn. Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz.
Back in the city, there's no rest for the weary.
Lingu says he can't wait to get some sleep finally. "I could use some," he admits.
By Tuesday night, he won't be alone.
Times You Should Know:
The polls open at 6 a.m. in all three states. They close at 9 p.m. in New York, while shutting down an hour earlier in both New Jersey and Connecticut.
Dos And Donts At The Polls
Know where your polling place is – don't waste time by heading to the wrong location.
Bring ID with you. The AARP advises voters to bring information identifying them by name and address and, if possible, with a photo. It's all just in case a polling official questions your identity.
Don't bring candidate paraphernalia with you – that means no signs, buttons, or pamphlets. Election officials may ask you to cover it up or dispose of it.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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