America goes to the polls

By Staff Reports

"An hour and 20 minutes."

"Thirty minutes, tops."

"Four hours!"

All over York, Chester and Lancaster counties, voters compared how long it took them to vote Tuesday. The same conversations took place across South Carolina and the rest of the nation.

A presidential campaign that started nearly two years ago finally was decided. Races for scores of other elective offices also drew voters to the polls, but the main draw was the presidential race, one that would be historic no matter who won.

After the final turnout is tallied, it may be historic as well. It already is apparent that local turnout was enormous, with lines at most precincts snaking down sidewalks and around corners.

Many voters tried tactics to avoid the rush: Be the first in line at 6:30 a.m.; vote between the pre-work crowd and the lunch crowd; angle for the late afternoon just before people got off work.

Often, those tactics didn't work. No matter what time of day it was, the lines were still there.

Many voters also fell victim to the "name game." Several precincts divided lines into two groups, one for those with names ending in letters "A" through "M," the other for those with names ending in "N" through "Z."

Apparently, there are many more of those in the first group than the latter group. That meant that Adam Anderson had to stand in line for an eternity while Zeb Zimmerman waltzed to the front of the line and voted in 15 minutes.

Obviously, there is something inherently unfair in that -- especially if you were in the A-through-M line. Some precinct workers changed the procedure so that voters could be processed in either line, whatever their last names happened to be.

Another frequently mentioned problem was the lack of voting machines at some precincts. Why, voters asked, when lines were stretching around the block, did the precinct have only four or five voting machines? Why didn't planners anticipate a huge turnout and install more machines?

Election officials, we hope, will review these and other issues and make changes where necessary before the next election. By and large, however, the process appeared to go smoothly.

We are especially grateful to all the poll workers who volunteered their time to help out in this vital exercise. Many were on their feet much of the day, guiding voters, answering questions or helping with curbside voting.

Finally, a huge turnout is not something we should lament. We should be celebrating the amazing interest this election generated.

Those born in a functioning democracy may not reflect often on the merits of a system that permits the peaceful transfer of power from one governing group to the next. It is a gift beyond value.

This election, millions of Americans participated in that democratic process, not only voting but working for candidates, campaigning door to door, working the phones or sending fliers. Whether their candidates triumphed Tuesday or not, this is a good time to offer thanks for the gift of democracy.