Long waits, lost wages a new poll tax
From yeterday's Lexington Herald-Leader
By Ron Formisano

If your feet still ache from standing in line for three hours to vote, now might be the time to contact your state representative or County Clerk Don Blevins. But do not expect much help from Blevins, whose recent comments and inaction in office suggest he is not interested in making voting easier in Fayette County.

The problem is not just Fayette's, however, since Kentucky is among the worst states in allowing its citizens access to the polls. Kentucky is one of only three states to close its polls early, at 6 p.m., but one of those is Indiana, where Election Day is a holiday. Twenty states keep polls open until 8 p.m. and most of them allow 13 hours rather than 12 for voting.

But many states do not yet provide adequate facilities for voters. In some states across the nation waits to vote reached six hours and more. This is a national scandal, but it just happens to be worse in Kentucky because this state is among those making it more difficult for citizens to vote...

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