Long lines for Ladson

Adding a second precinct and a swell of voters choked up a line of voters outside Ladson Elementary School.

A frustrated Tashara Parker, of Ladson, lined up outside the school at 6:30 a.m. and didn’t come out a voter until 10 a.m. Two lines were set up, one for the Ladson precinct, and another for the Deer Park precinct. The Deer Park line moved much more quickly and Parker and other voters thought that was unfair. Lou Baker, precinct manager, said people from the Ladson precinct needed to act as if the Deer Park precinct wasn’t there.

Inside, 10 voting machines were squeezed into the front lobby and voters could see one another while voting, but not their choices, Baker said.

The only other option would have been to move the machines to a cafeteria making lines more confusing, he said.

“This is the largest turnout we’ve had ever,” Baker said.

The wait was long enough that poll workers were bringing people from the line indoors to use the restrooms.

Baker took the heat from a few voters, but he he expected worse.

“I expected to be raked over the coals,” he said.

----Jessica