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Long Lines At The Polls Likely Not A Problem This Year

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Florida had the longest wait times for voters in the 2012 presidential election. A recent Government Accountability Office study showed Florida voters stood in line for up to 7 hours in some precincts.

But that’s not likely to be a problem in November. Even a hotly contested Governor’s race may not be enough to overcome typically low turnout for non-presidential year elections.

Orange County supervisor of elections Bill Cowles says he can almost guarantee there won’t be long lines this November.

He says turnout plummets in years when there’s no presidential election.

“I don’t understand why people are not more engaged in voting for the local people who are making laws and setting rates for taxes and all, that truly effect our day to day quality of our lives,” says Cowles.

Cowles says voter turnout in Orange County in 2010 was around 44 per cent, but that’s when there was a competitive mayoral race.

He says although the Governor’s race is tight, he’s not sure whether the negative ads will encourage people to vote - or stay away.