Voters find long line for absentee ballot

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Mahaska County residents lined up in the Mahaska County Courthouse Monday afternoon to vote at the county auditor’s office. Herald photo by Duane Nollen
Clarice Wright, of Oskaloosa, stands next to the U.S. flag in the Mahaska County Courthouse Monday afternoon. Wright, who owns White Oak Estates, said she decided to cast an absentee ballot early to avoid long lines Election Day. Behind Wright is Chris Richardson, of Oskaloosa. Herald photo by Michael Schaffer

November 4, 2008

By MICHAEL SCHAFFER

OSKALOOSA — Mahaska County residents had a long wait Monday to cast an absentee ballot at the Auditor’s Office.

The mood of those in the single-file line in the first-floor lobby of the Mahaska Country Courthouse Monday afternoon was spirited and talkative. One man, who did not want to be identified, said he waited 45 minutes in the morning, left, and then returned in the afternoon, only to have to wait one hour and still have 8 feet to reach the door to the Auditor’s Office. A second person who did not want to be identified said it was taking about eight minutes per person to vote.

Clarice Wright, of Oskaloosa, was still a good 10 feet from the door when she said she had been in line for more than an hour. Wright, who owns White Oak Estates, said she decided to cast an absentee ballot Monday to avoid even longer lines on Election Day.

“My wait would have been longer tomorrow,” Wright said.

Standing behind Wright was Chris Richardson and husband, Ron, of Oskaloosa. Ron explained he was there to provide moral support, while Chris said she was there “to make sure Danny Carroll got my vote.”

The length of the line Monday afternoon from the Auditor’s Office constantly stretched to the Treasurers Office, a good 25 to 30 feet.

Many young adults were waiting in line, including 19-year-old Dustin Voss, of Oskaloosa. The first-time voter said he did not think there would be such a long line and wanted to avoid long lines Tuesday.

“I wanted to make sure I got my vote in, instead of waiting until tomorrow,” Voss said.

Waiting with Voss was Michele Davis, of Oskaloosa, who said she cast her vote three weeks ago.

Taking it all in was Maggie Cox, of Oskaloosa, comfortably sitting in a padded chair just outside the entrance to the Auditor’s Office.

Cox said her job was to answer voter’s questions. The auditor gave her the title of hall monitor, she said.

Cox said she took her seat at 9:30 a.m. and the line was one-half as long in the morning and at the beginning of the lunch hour. She said she would stay until the courthouse closed at 4:30 p.m.

“This afternoon is when it really picked up,” Cox said.

Herald City Editor Michael Schaffer can be reached by email at mschaffer@oskyherald.com