Black leaders want their votes secured

WASHINGTON, April 9 (UPI) -- U.S. lawmakers Wednesday met with voting advocates acting on behalf of the nearly 70,000 voters complaining of ballot shortages and long lines.

African-American advocates from the NAACP and the Congressional Black Caucus joined forces with radio talk-show host Tom Joyner to bring the complaints to legislators to push for changes in local election procedures, The Washington Post reported.

The advocates said they compiled calls to voter hotlines and other testimonies in a report that points out several precincts where alleged vote suppression occurred.

Voters complained polling stations where moved without notification and said long lines sent many citizens home without casting a ballot.

"Ever since the infamous Florida election, our audience has been super sensitive about being the victims of voting irregularities," Joyner said.

Critics of the move say poorly trained poll workers, shoddy organization and first-time voters are the cause of the problem.

Several poll watchers said the issue is significant this election cycle since Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has a chance to become the nation's first black president.