WASHINGTON -- Once again, Florida and its problems at the polls are at the center of an election.

Early voting is supposed to make it easier for people to carry out their constitutional right. Tuesdays are notoriously inconvenient to take off work, so many states have given voters the option of turning out on weekends or other weekdays in the run-up to Election Day.

But in Florida this year, it has been a nightmare for voters, who have faced record wait times, long lines in the sun and a Republican governor, Rick Scott, who has refused to budge and extend early voting hours.

"People are getting out to vote. That's what's very good," said Scott.

People are getting out to vote -- but many of them are having to wait in line for three or four hours to do so. One contributor to DailyKos claimed it took 9 hours to vote. In Miami-Dade on Saturday, people who had gotten in line by 7:00 p.m. were allowed to vote; the last person wasn't checked in until 1 a.m., meaning it took some individuals six hours to cast a ballot.

"We're looking at an election meltdown that is eerily similar to 2000, minus the hanging chads," said Dan Smith, a political science professor at the University of Florida.

Miami-Dade attempted to deal with the problem on Sunday by allowing voters to cast absentee ballots in person between 1:00 and 5:00 p.m. However, after just two hours, the Miami-Dade elections department shut down the location after too many people showed up. People outside the locked doors were reportedly screaming, "We want to vote!"

"They didn't have the infrastructure," filmmaker Lucas Leyva, who was among those turned away, told The Huffington Post's Janie Campbell. "We read the press release and everything that went out this morning, promising we'd be able to get absentee ballots and vote. We got here and there was a line of hundreds of people all being told the same thing, that that wasn't true anymore. You could drop off [a ballot], but they could not issue one."

And if getting turned away from the polls weren't enough of an indignity, some of those 180 people ended up getting their cars towed from the parking lot across the street, according to a Miami Herald reporter.

On Twitter, former Republican governor Charlie Crist -- who is now an independent -- responded to news of the office's closing, writing on Twitter, "Let the people vote!"

“We had the best of intentions to provide this service today,” said department spokeswoman Christina White. “We just can’t accommodate it to the degree that we would like to.”

About 30 minutes later, a Miami Herald reporter tweeted that the Miami-Dade location was reopening its doors.

Palm Beach, Pinellas, Orange, Leon and Hillsborough Counties also opened up in-person absentee voting on Sunday.

President Barack Obama's campaign and some of its supporters were attempting to keep people's spirits up -- and discourage them from abandoning the lines -- by bringing in food, water and even local musicians and DJs as entertainment.

North Miami Mayor Andre Pierre brought 400 slices of pizza to voters in line at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday night at the city's public library, according to an Obama official.

While many Democrats viewed it as a victory when a few offices opened absentee balloting on Sunday, the process is not the same as early voting -- and could result in more individuals not having their votes counted.

"Absentee ballots have a much higher rejection rate for minorities and young people, if you look at the Aug. 14 primary," said Smith.

A major reason there are so many problems at the polls is that last year, Florida's GOP-controlled legislature shortened the number of early voting days from 14 to eight, meaning all early voters are trying to cast their ballots in a shorter window. Previously, Floridians were allowed to vote on the Sunday before Election Day -- a day that typically had high traffic.

But losing that final Sunday isn't the only problem. Smith said that he and Dartmouth professor Michael Herron found that in 2008, voters 65 or older were much more likely to cast ballots in the first five days of early voting than members of other age groups, alleviating some of the pressure at the polls in the remaining days. Those extra days, however, are gone this year, leading to a compression that the system has been unable to handle.

Scott has refused to extend early voting hours, essentially arguing that there is no problem, despite calls from Democrats, independent groups and even a Republican elections supervisor. He is arguing that he can extend early voting hours only when there is a true emergency -- like a natural disaster -- that warrants it.

"I'm focused on making sure that we have fair, honest elections," said Scott. "One thing to know, these early voting days and on Election Day, if you're there by the time the polls close, you get to vote."

Scott has some of the lowest approval ratings of any governor in the nation. In recent Quinnipiac poll, just 39 percent of Floridians said they approved of the job he is doing. Scott, unlike many other GOP governors, has not hit the campaign trail much on behalf of Mitt Romney.

As Florida Democrats have pointed out, the state's previous two Republican governors -- Jeb Bush and Crist -- both extended the hours. A spokesman for Bush didn't return a request for comment.

A judge extended the hours in Orange County after the state Democratic Party sued for more time. The location was closed for several hours on Saturday when everyone was evacuated due to a suspicious package.

Democrats are traditionally more likely to vote early, which is why many in the party have ascribed political motives to Scott's restriction of the process. According to a report in the Miami Herald on Saturday, Democrats were leading Republicans "by about 187,000 early in-person ballots cast" as of that morning.

On Election Day, there will be fewer polling precincts this year than in 2008 -- due to redistricting and budget constraints -- meaning traffic on Tuesday could also be a problem.

Florida is expected to be tight in this election. According to HuffPost Pollster's average of polls in the race, Romney is now leading Obama in the state by less than one percentage point.

This article was updated with comments from Dan Smith.

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  • FILE - This Oct. 29, 2012 file photo shows people standing in line to vote in the presidential election, in Miami. There’s always grousing about people who don’t bother to vote. But look at it another way: An estimated 133 million Americans will cast ballots in Tuesday’s election. That’s about 6 in 10 eligible adults. Some will persevere despite long lines, pressing personal burdens or the devastation left by Superstorm Sandy. Why do they do it? It’s not because any one voter will decide the contest between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. Depending on which state they live in, the odds of casting a deciding vote for president are somewhere between 1 in a million and essentially zero. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

  • Voters stand in line to pick up their absentee ballots in Doral, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012. Christina White, deputy supervisor with Miami-Dade County, said the county also decided to accept absentee ballots for four hours on Sunday at its main office. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

  • Diana Camacho, left, chants “we want to vote,” after the elections office in Miami-Dade County closed its doors to voters who waited in long lines for an absentee ballot in Doral, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012. The doors were reopened after the voters in line demanded to vote. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

  • Myrna Peralta, left, and other voters react after the elections office in Miami-Dade County reopened its doors to voters who waited in long lines for an absentee ballot in Doral, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012. The doors were closed after election officials were overwhelmed by the size of the crowd Sunday. With limited staff and one printer, election officials decided to shut down the main office, doors were reopened after voters protested and demanded to exercise their right to vote. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

  • Jorge Estomba, district director of Move On, talks to reporetrs after the elections office in Miami-Dade County closed its doors to voters who waited in long lines for an absentee ballot in Doral, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012. The doors were reopened after the voters in line demanded to vote. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

  • South Floridians stand in line during the last day of early voting in Miami, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012. Despite record turnout in many parts of the state, Florida Gov. Rick Scott rejected calls to extend early voting through Sunday to help alleviate long lines at the polls. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

  • South Floridians stand in line during the last day of early voting in Miami, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012. Despite record turnout in many parts of the state, Florida Gov. Rick Scott rejected calls to extend early voting through Sunday to help alleviate long lines at the polls. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

  • Voters stand in line during the fourth day of early voting in North Miami, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, as Floridians cast their ballot seven days before Election Day. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

  • Early Voting Starts In Florida

    MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 27: Early voters wait in line to vote in the presidential election on the first day of early voting at a polling station setup at the City of Miami City Hall on October 27, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Early voting in one of the important swing states is held for eight straight 12-hour days, leading up to the November 6 general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Voters stand in line during the fourth day of early voting in Miami, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, as Floridians cast their ballot seven days before Election Day. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

  • Edriss Montrose

    People wait to in line to vote early on Sunday, Oct. 28,2012 in Miami. Organizers say at least 135 Florida churches participated Sunday in "souls to the polls" bus and car caravans aimed at getting mostly Latino and African-American congregations to cast ballots early. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

  • FILE - This Oct. 29, 2012 file photo shows people standing in line to vote during early voting for the presidential election, in Miami. One week before a close election, superstorm Sandy has confounded the presidential race, halting early voting in many areas, forcing both candidates to suspend campaigning and leading many to ponder whether the election might be postponed. It could take days to restore electricity to all of the more than 8 million homes and businesses that lost power when the storm pummeled the East Coast. That means it’s possible that power could still be out in some states on Election Day _ a major problem for areas that rely on electronic voting machines. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

  • People stand in line to vote early Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in Pembroke Pines, Fla. On the only Sunday that Florida polls will be open for early voting this election cycle, faith leaders from 44 congregations in six Florida cities will lead their congregations to early voting locations in a massive "Souls to the Polls" effort to mobilize faith voters. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

  • Betty Gray

    Betty Gray stands in line to vote early, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012 in Miami at a "Souls to the Polls" rally. Organizers say at least 135 Florida churches on Sunday participated in "souls to the polls", a program of bus and car caravans aimed at getting mostly Latino and African-American congregations to cast ballots early. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

  • Early Voting Starts In Florida

    MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 27: Early voters wait in line to vote in the presidential election on the first day of early voting at a polling station setup in the Miami-Dade County elections departmnet building on October 27, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Early voting in Florida, one of the important swing states, is held for eight straight 12-hour days leading up to the November 6 general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Early Voting Starts In Florida

    MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 27: Early voters wait in line to vote in the presidential election on the first day of early voting at a polling station setup at the City of Miami City Hall on October 27, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Early voting in one of the important swing states is held for eight straight 12-hour days, leading up to the November 6 general election.. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • South Florida voters line up to vote at the John F. Kennedy Library in Hialeah, Fla., Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012. Special polling places opened throughout the state Saturday and will be open daily for the next week. Poll times vary by county. This year's early voting period is shorter than in previous elections. Voting rights groups concerned about problems with access unsuccessfully challenged the reduced time frame in the courts. Officials say more than 1.1 million Floridians have already cast ballots through mail-in absentee voting. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

  • Early Voting Starts In Florida

    MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 27: Early voters wait in line to vote in the presidential election on the first day of early voting at a polling station setup at the City of Miami City Hall on October 27, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Early voting in one of the important swing states is held for eight straight 12-hour days, leading up to the November 6 general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • South Florida voters line up to vote in Miami, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012. Special polling places opened throughout the state Saturday and will be open daily for the next week. Poll times vary by county. This year's early voting period is shorter than in previous elections. Voting rights groups concerned about problems with access unsuccessfully challenged the reduced time frame in the courts. Officials say more than 1.1 million Floridians have already cast ballots through mail-in absentee voting. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

  • Early Voting Starts In Florida

    MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 27: Early voters fill out their ballots as they cast their vote in the presidential election on the first day of early voting, at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center on October 27, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Early voting in one of the important swing states is held for eight straight 12-hour days, leading up to the November 6 general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Early Voting Starts In Florida

    MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 27: Early voters wait in line to vote in the presidential election on the first day of early voting at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center on October 27, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Early voting in one of the important swing states is held for eight straight 12-hour days, leading up to the November 6 general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Early Voting Starts In Florida

    MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 27: Early voters wait in line to vote in the presidential election on the first day of early voting at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center on October 27, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Early voting in one of the important swing states is held for eight straight 12-hour days, leading up to the November 6 general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Early Voting Starts In Florida

    MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 27: Early voters wait in line to vote in the presidential election on the first day of early voting at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center on October 27, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Early voting in one of the important swing states is held for eight straight 12-hour days, leading up to the November 6 general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Early Voting Starts In Florida

    MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 27: Early voters wait in line to vote in the presidential election on the first day of early voting at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center on October 27, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Early voting in one of the important swing states is held for eight straight 12-hour days, leading up to the November 6 general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Voters receive ballots after election inspectors check their identification during the fourth day of early voting in Miami on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, one week before Election Day. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

  • A unidentified voter checks her ballot as she prepares to cast her vote during the fourth day of early voting in Miami on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, one week before Election Day. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

  • Keith Porro, Austin

    Keith Porro and his son, Austin, stand beside their campaign trailer, filled with signs and poster, outside an early voting site in Pembroke Pines, Fla. Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, as he campaigns for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. On the only Sunday that Florida polls will be open for early voting this election cycle, faith leaders from 44 congregations in six Florida cities will lead their congregations to early voting locations in a massive “Souls to the Polls” effort to mobilize faith voters. Organizers of the event estimate more than 2,000 faith voters, mostly African-American and Latino, will vote early as a result of the coordinated, state-wide event. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

  • Betty James

    Betty James holds a sign outside the Faith Community Baptist Church in Miami, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012 as she tries to rally churchgoers to board a bus that would take them to vote early. On the only Sunday that Florida polls will be open for early voting this election cycle, faith leaders from 44 congregations in six Florida cities will lead their congregations to early voting locations in a massive “Souls to the Polls” effort to mobilize faith voters. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

  • A man votes during early voting for the presidential election, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Miami. About 1.9 million Floridians have already cast ballots eight days before Election Day, Nov 6. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

  • Victoria Pendleton, Cara Porter

    Victoria Pendleton, left, stands next to Cara Porter as they ride a bus to vote early Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012 in the "Souls to Polls" rally in Miami. Organizers of the event say at least 135 Florida churches participated in the programs of bus and car caravans aimed at getting mostly Latino and African-American congregations to cast ballots early. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

  • Shaneca Adams, Constance Gilbert, Barbara Dent

    Shaneca Adams, left, Constance Gilbert and Barbara Dent, stage a rally at a early voting site in Miami, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. Faith leaders from 44 congregations in six Florida cities lead their congregations to early voting locations in a massive “Souls to the Polls” effort to mobilize faith voters. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

  • Shaneca Adams, Constance Gilbert, Barbara Dent

    Shaneca Adams, left, Constance Gilbert and Barbara Dent, stage a rally at a early voting site in Miami, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. Faith leaders from 44 congregations in six Florida cities lead their congregations to early voting locations in a massive “Souls to the Polls” effort to mobilize faith voters. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

  • Early Voting Starts In Florida

    MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 27: Workers place signs to guide voters to the right place on the first day of early voting in the presidential election at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center on October 27, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Early voting in one of the important swing states is held for eight straight 12-hour days, leading up to the November 6 general election.. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Early Voting Starts In Florida

    MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 27: An early voter fills out her ballot as she casts her vote in the presidential election on the first day of early voting at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center on October 27, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Early voting in one of the important swing states is held for eight straight 12-hour days, leading up to the November 6 general election.n. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Early Voting Starts In Florida

    MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 27: A sign reading 'Vote' is held upduring a rally for President Barack Obama on the first day of early voting in the presidential electoin outside of the voting center setup in the Stephen P. Clark Government Center on October 27, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Early voting in one of the important swing states is held for eight straight 12-hour days, leading up to the November 6 general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Early Voting Starts In Florida

    MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 27: Workers place signs to guide voters to the right place on the first day of early voting in the presidential election at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center on October 27, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Early voting in one of the important swing states is held for eight straight 12-hour days, leading up to the November 6 general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Early Voting Starts In Florida

    MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 27: Early voters fill out their ballots as they cast their vote in the presidential election on the first day of early voting, at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center on October 27, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Early voting in one of the important swing states is held for eight straight 12-hour days, leading up to the November 6 general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Early Voting Starts In Florida

    MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 27: Early voters fill out their ballots as they cast their vote in the presidential election on the first day of early voting, at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center on October 27, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Early voting in one of the important swing states is held for eight straight 12-hour days, leading up to the November 6 general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Early Voting Starts In Florida

    MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 27: Early voters fill out their ballots as they cast their vote in the presidential election on the first day of early voting, at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center on October 27, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Early voting in one of the important swing states is held for eight straight 12-hour days, leading up to the November 6 general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Early Voting Starts In Florida

    MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 27: Early voters fill out their ballots as they cast their vote in the presidential election on the first day of early voting, at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center on October 27, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Early voting in one of the important swing states is held for eight straight 12-hour days, leading up to the November 6 general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Early Voting Starts In Florida

    MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 27: Early voters fill out their ballots as they cast their vote in the presidential election on the first day of early voting, at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center on October 27, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Early voting in one of the important swing states is held for eight straight 12-hour days, leading up to the November 6 general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Florida Prepares For Early Voting To Start Tomorrow

    MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 26: People walk past voting booths ready for early voting at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center on October 26, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Early voting in Florida begins October 27th and lasts for eight straight 12-hour days leading up to the November 6th general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Florida Prepares For Early Voting To Start Tomorrow

    MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 26: Voting booths sit ready for early voting at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center on October 26, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Early voting in Florida begins October 27th and lasts for eight straight 12-hour days leading up to the November 6th general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Florida Prepares For Early Voting To Start Tomorrow

    FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - OCTOBER 26: Kevin Manning from the Broward County Supervisor of Elections office sets up voting booths for the start of early voting in the Broward County library on October 26, 2012 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Early voting in Florida begins October 27th and lasts for eight straight 12-hour days leading up to the November 6th general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Florida Prepares For Early Voting To Start Tomorrow

    FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - OCTOBER 26: Kevin Manning from the Broward County Supervisor of Elections office sets up voting booths for the start of early voting in the Broward County library on October 26, 2012 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Early voting in Florida begins October 27th and lasts for eight straight 12-hour days leading up to the November 6th general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Florida Prepares For Early Voting To Start Tomorrow

    FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - OCTOBER 26: Hector from the Broward County Supervisor of Elections office sets up voting booths for the start of early voting in the Broward County library on October 26, 2012 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Early voting in Florida begins October 27th and lasts for eight straight 12-hour days leading up to the November 6th general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Florida Prepares For Early Voting To Start Tomorrow

    FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - OCTOBER 26: Hector from the Broward County Supervisor of Elections office sets up voting booths for the start of early voting in the Broward County library on October 26, 2012 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Early voting in Florida begins October 27th and lasts for eight straight 12-hour days leading up to the November 6th general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Florida Prepares For Early Voting To Start Tomorrow

    FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - OCTOBER 26: Kevin Manning from the Broward County Supervisor of Elections office sets up stanchions to direct voters to the voting booths for the start of early voting in the Broward County library on October 26, 2012 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Early voting in Florida begins October 27th and lasts for eight straight 12-hour days leading up to the November 6th general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Florida Prepares For Early Voting To Start Tomorrow

    FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - OCTOBER 26: Hector from the Broward County Supervisor of Elections office sets up voting booths for the start of early voting in the Broward County library on October 26, 2012 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Early voting in Florida begins October 27th and lasts for eight straight 12-hour days leading up to the November 6th general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Florida Prepares For Early Voting To Start Tomorrow

    MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 26: A man walks past voting booths ready for early voting at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center on October 26, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Early voting in Florida begins October 27th and lasts for eight straight 12-hour days leading up to the November 6th general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Florida Prepares For Early Voting To Start Tomorrow

    FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - OCTOBER 26: Hector from the Broward County Supervisor of Elections office sets up voting booths for the start of early voting in the Broward County library on October 26, 2012 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Early voting in Florida begins October 27th and lasts for eight straight 12-hour days leading up to the November 6th general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)