Kaine Wants To Ease Rules On Extending Polling Hours

RICHMOND, Feb. 21 -- In response to weather problems that prevented many Northern Virginia residents from voting in last week's presidential primary, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine asked legislators Thursday to make it easier to extend polling hours.

The proposal would allow the State Board of Elections or the chairmen of the state's political parties to ask a circuit court judge to extend the voting hours when emergency circumstances prevent voters from getting to the polls on time.

"The bill was put in as a direct response to the problems in Northern Virginia during the primary," said Gordon Hickey, a spokesman for Kaine (D). "A number of legislators and citizens asked the governor to introduce legislation to deal with the issue."

The law now allows only the campaigns involved in the election to ask a judge to extend the hours. The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

"This year is the perfect example of why we need more flexibility in providing people the ability to vote and exercise their fundamental rights," said Brian J. Moran (Alexandria), chairman of the House Democratic caucus. "There was a combination of higher voter participation and then bad weather which caused long lines, and some people were unable to get to the polls on time."

As icy weather struck the region Feb. 12, Maryland officials gave voters an extra 90 minutes to reach the polls. Virginia officials informed the campaigns that they could petition a judge to extend the hours, but none did.

Voters said Thursday that they were pleased by Kaine's proposal.

Gretchen Liechty-Lynch, 29, a teacher from Tysons Corner, said she thought she would have ample time to vote in the primary at Marshall High School, which is next door to her apartment, if she left work at 6:25 p.m. But her commute, which usually takes 10 minutes, dragged on for more than 45 minutes.

"I actually sat in traffic and did not move for 30 minutes," she said. "I walked into the school at 7:15. I was so sure they would have extended the hours, I was shocked I couldn't vote."

Ruth A. Simmons's commute to her home in Alexandria through the Springfield Mixing Bowl, usually 35 minutes long, took more than two hours. She got home at 7:04 p.m. and stayed there, knowing the polling place would be closed.

"I was furious," said Simmons, 48, a licensed clinical social worker. "I admit that I don't vote in every single primary, but this one was important to me. I had opinions, and I wanted to be able to vote."

To become law, the measure must be passed by the House and Senate by March 8, when the 60-day legislative session ends.

In the past, legislators' efforts to extend voting hours in Northern Virginia because of traffic congestion have failed.

Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick (R-Prince William) said he received about 10 e-mails from residents saying they were not able to get to the polls Feb. 12.

"I think that people who want to vote should be able to vote," he said. "I think that's a good way to go."

Scott Surovell, chairman of the Fairfax County Democratic Party, said that though voters knew a storm was coming, some were taken by surprise because it was mostly ice and came down heavily during the rush hours. He received complaints from several people who said they had thought they had given themselves ample time but couldn't vote.

"I'm not surprised that the [state] code did not contemplate extending elections for a weather emergency, because we don't usually have to worry about bad weather during elections," he said. "You don't get many hurricanes or ice storms in November or June."