Voters beg poll worker to let them cast their ballot in Pembroke Pines

Democrats' effort to extend voting precinct hours in Broward failed

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – The doors closed at 7 p.m. But about a dozen people were still waiting outside to cast their vote Tuesday night.

A man was trying to reason with the poll worker. A truck driver was waiting to load orange cones, tables and other items at Pembroke Pines YMCA Family Center, 501 SW 172nd Ave.

"They keep on talking to the lady in charge, but nobody is budging," Angel Castrillo said. "They are just not letting them vote."

Meanwhile, the Florida Democratic Party filed an emergency motion to extend voting hours in Broward County due to several "systemic breakdowns." Some of the breakdowns noted included computer malfunctions and a polling station at Croissant Elementary School that was offline.

Local 10 News' Jeff Weinsier reported that Broward Judge Jack Tuter rejected the motion to extend voting hours in Broward about 7:55 p.m.

Castrillo, 53, of Miramar, voted at the YMCA in Pembroke Pines earlier. He said the mixed crowd who wanted to get into the basketball court that was turned into a voting precinct, after 7 p.m. was upset.

Jennifer Garcia works at the YMCA center and said that she started her shift at 3 p.m. She said she did not see long lines.

"There was a nice flow of people coming in," Garcia, 22, said.

Some left without casting their ballot, Castrillo said. The people who were there couldn't prove that they were in line before 7 p.m.