(CNN) -- Registration and absentee ballot issues topped last-minute concerns among voters in the days before Tuesday's presidential election, with one analyst predicting previous flashpoints may cause headaches again this year.
Voters wait in line in Pompano Beach, Florida, on Saturday.
Of the more than 10,000 problems reported to CNN's Voter Hotline so far, the most complaints -- about 1,400 -- come from Florida.
In nearly 8 percent of those complaints, callers said they had not received their voter registration cards, and about 15 percent said they had yet to receive the absentee ballots they requested.
Similar patterns were seen among callers nationwide.
Paul Gronke, a political scientist at Oregon's Reed College, said Florida, Ohio and New Mexico -- which also had a long count in 2004 -- are likely to be "trouble spots" again.
Colorado and New Jersey, which Gronke said loosened early voting rules this year, could see more problems this year.
"You've generally got to be a little concerned about counting in states with last-minute absentee voting," Gronke said.
He said Republicans and Democrats have been asking him questions about standards for absentee balloting, "which strikes me as an early-warning indicator."
From Cleveland, Ohio, Karen Terrance told CNN that she had not received her registration card despite calls to her local election board.
"I was born and raised here," Terrance said. "I don't understand why I'm not getting any communication. So I hope next year and years after, I won't have that problem."
Long lines at early voting stations were another top concern among Floridians, with more than 10 percent reporting lines that were too long. 
Watch who's being affected by long lines and voter problems »
More than 4.4 million Floridians have already cast ballots in the election, according to the state Division of Elections -- about 40 percent of the 11 million voters on the rolls.
No comments:
Post a Comment