By Staff
Although poll workers in Escambia County had to put in a couple more hours work than in previous years, the expanded voting hours introduced statewide for this election were a great idea.
In previous elections held in Escambia County, voters would often flock to the polls during their lunch hours as they were tied up with work or children during the only other times the polls were open. The 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. hours made it difficult for parents or voters who work out of town to get back to their precincts before the polls had closed.
The new hours, 7 a.m to 7 p.m. allow voters to have the flexibility of voting before heading to work, or after picking up the kids from school and getting them fed. Citizens that work out-of-town have the flexibility of making it to the polls and casting their ballots.
And finally, the new hours seem to have cut down on the lines that voters had previously encountered over lunch or at 5 p.m. on the way home from work.
In our view, the state legislature made a good decision to standardize the voting hours in Alabama. Doing so has made it easier for all the citizens of the state to take part in the process of shaping our future.