At this Ward 2 polling place in Georgetown this morning, a block-long line turned the corner at 31st and Dumbarton and extended another block. Photograph by Carol Ross Joynt.
Fortunately for Washington-area voters, the region is enjoying dry, sunny weather
this election day, making it cold but otherwise not too miserable for people having
to stand in long lines at polling places. We surveyed our readers for a sampling of
waiting times and got responses from DC, Maryland, and Virginia, and as far away as
St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. The typical wait time reported to us was two
hours, though we heard “less than 15 minutes” from a reader in Alexandria. At the
other extreme was, “I waited three hours to vote early in Columbia Heights.” A tweeter
from Crystal City, Virginia, wrote, “2 hours so far—I’m still waiting.” From Fort
Washington, Maryland, we heard “nearly 2hrs.”
The weather was an issue for some, but not a deterrent: “2:45 mins & it was freezing
but I wasn’t leaving until I voted,” wrote Stephanie Ferguson. An Arlington voter
said “a little over two hours—half outside, half inside.” From another Arlington reader:
“an hour in Arlington and well worth it.” In DC: “2hours10m @oyster elementary on
Calvert St.” Lynette Williams wanted us to know: “I waited 2 hrs, 15 min. in Upper
Marlboro (Frederick Douglass High School). Loved every second of it!”
Among our own staff, Melissa Romero reported, “two hours at Central Library in Ballston,
starting at 6:30 AM. One hour outside, one hour inside.” Brrrrr. Sarah Zlotnick said,
“just over 90 mins in Ward 2 at the church at 15th and M. Got in line at 8:30.” Back
at the office, she said her feet were still thawing out.
Former DC mayor and current city council member Marion Barry Jr. was not happy with the long wait times and assigned blame: “Waiting in 2-3-4 hour lines to vote is unacceptable! The DC Board of Elections was not prepared,” Barry tweeted.
There were sporadic reports of polling problems. WTOP radio reported “voters at some
Virginia polling places” contacted them with accounts of difficulty casting ballots,
ranging from broken voting machines to not enough voting machines or paper ballots.
Polls remain open until 8 PM in DC and Maryland and until 7 PM in Virginia.
We Ask Area Voters: How Long Did You Wait in Line at the Polls?
Most waits were long, but at least the weather obliged.
Fortunately for Washington-area voters, the region is enjoying dry, sunny weather
this election day, making it cold but otherwise not too miserable for people having
to stand in long lines at polling places. We surveyed our readers for a sampling of
waiting times and got responses from DC, Maryland, and Virginia, and as far away as
St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. The typical wait time reported to us was two
hours, though we heard “less than 15 minutes” from a reader in Alexandria. At the
other extreme was, “I waited three hours to vote early in Columbia Heights.” A tweeter
from Crystal City, Virginia, wrote, “2 hours so far—I’m still waiting.” From Fort
Washington, Maryland, we heard “nearly 2hrs.”
The weather was an issue for some, but not a deterrent: “2:45 mins & it was freezing
but I wasn’t leaving until I voted,” wrote Stephanie Ferguson. An Arlington voter
said “a little over two hours—half outside, half inside.” From another Arlington reader:
“an hour in Arlington and well worth it.” In DC: “2hours10m @oyster elementary on
Calvert St.” Lynette Williams wanted us to know: “I waited 2 hrs, 15 min. in Upper
Marlboro (Frederick Douglass High School). Loved every second of it!”
Among our own staff, Melissa Romero reported, “two hours at Central Library in Ballston,
starting at 6:30 AM. One hour outside, one hour inside.” Brrrrr. Sarah Zlotnick said,
“just over 90 mins in Ward 2 at the church at 15th and M. Got in line at 8:30.” Back
at the office, she said her feet were still thawing out.
Former DC mayor and current city council member Marion Barry Jr. was not happy with the long wait times and assigned blame: “Waiting in 2-3-4 hour lines to vote is unacceptable! The DC Board of Elections was not prepared,” Barry tweeted.
There were sporadic reports of polling problems. WTOP radio reported “voters at some
Virginia polling places” contacted them with accounts of difficulty casting ballots,
ranging from broken voting machines to not enough voting machines or paper ballots.
Polls remain open until 8 PM in DC and Maryland and until 7 PM in Virginia.
Most Popular in News & Politics
The Missing Men of Mount Pleasant
Another Mysterious Anti-Trump Statue Has Appeared on the National Mall
Muriel Bowser Defends Her BLM Plaza Decision and Looks Back on a Decade as Mayor
Yet Another Anti-Trump Statue Has Shown Up on the National Mall
Want to Search Donald Trump’s Truth Social Posts? A New Site Is Here to Help.
Washingtonian Magazine
July Issue: The "Best Of" Issue
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
How Would a New DC Stadium Compare to the Last One?
The Culture of Lacrosse Is More Complex Than People Think
Did Television Begin in Dupont Circle?
Kings Dominion’s Wild New Coaster Takes Flight in Virginia
More from News & Politics
AC Problem Closes Four Smithsonian Museums on the National Mall
Epstein Files Fiasco Continues to Be Weird and Entertaining, GOP Congressman Sued Over Unpaid Rent, and Lotuses Hit Peak Bloom
I Tried to Train for American Ninja Warrior
Trump Wants to Rename Soccer, the Nationals Chose a Shortstop, and Virginians Are the US French-Fry-Eating Champions
Guest List: 5 People We’d Love to Hang Out With This July
The Washington Nationals Just Fired the Manager and GM Who Led Them to a Championship. Why Has the Team Been so Bad Since?
FBI Building Now on Track to Leave DC After All, Whistleblower Leaks Texts Suggesting Justice Department Planned to Blow Off Federal Court Orders, and NPS Cuts Leave Assateague Island Without Lifeguards
Families of DC Air Disaster Victims Criticize Army’s Response, Trump Settles His Scores Via Tariff, and Police Dog Kicked at Dulles Returns to Work