Scott Says No to Extending Early Voting
Friday, November 2, 2012
By: Tom Parkinson

November 2, 2012 | WMFE - Governor Rick Scott says he will not extend early voting through Sunday despite pleas from the state Democratic Party and the League of Women Voters of Florida. Meanwhile voters are reporting long lines and long wait times at early voting locations throughout the state.

Governor Scott says the early voting period will end on Saturday night at 7:00 as planned.

Last year, the state Legislature reduced the number of early voting days from 14 to eight.

The early voting option has proven very popular among voters this year and, combined with a long and complicated ballot, the League of Women Voters is reporting wait times as long as six hours in some locations. 

The League joined with state Democratic Party leaders Thursday to ask Scott to extend the early voting period by one day. 

Democratic leaders reminded Scott that two former Republican Governors, Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist, extended voting hours when it became apparent that some voters would not have an opportunity to vote otherwise.

A spokesman for the Department of State said that any voter who is in line at closing time on either Saturday or Election Day will be allowed to vote. 

As of Thursday night, the Secretary of State's office says more than 3 million Floridians have already voted either by absentee ballot or at early voting locations.