Packed ballot may result in long lines Election Day

TALLAHASSEE — A ballot bulging with candidates and proposed constitutional amendments means Florida voters could endure long lines on Election Day this November, officials warn.

The Nov. 6 election features contests for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, three Cabinet officers, state House, state Senate and county commission seats. Then voters will have to wade through 13 proposed changes to the state constitution, a long list that has election officers particularly worried.

“As we learned in 2012, the longer the ballot, the longer the line,” said Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Michael Ertel. “Our voters will be in the voting booth oftentimes read- ing these amendments for the first time while they’re in the voting booth ... so they’re taking their time.”

In 2012, many precincts in South Florida were swamped on Election Day as voters considered 12 ballot measures, waiting in line for hours in some cases and delaying official results, leading some to question whether some voters left in frustration.

This year, eight of the proposed constitutional amendments were placed there by the Constitution Revision Commission, a panel that meets every 20 years to offer changes to the state’s governing document. The other five were approved by the Legislature or through petition drives.

Ertel said he was concerned