Official Midterm Voting Problems Thread

[Flash Walken]

I figure instead of co-opting a good thread, this should be the place to discuss what I feel is going to be the issue of the election: voting irregularities and problems.

It's still early, but here are some articles

Polling places turn to paper ballots after glitches
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/....ap/index.html

Lawmakers among those snagged by voting problems
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...110700834.html

"This morning, more than 40 polling places in Cuyahoga County reported problems when the polls opened.

Forty-three of the county’s 573 voting places either failed to open on time or couldn’t get some or all of their electronic voting machines to work, Melamed said.

At Boulevard School in Shaker Heights voters who showed up first-thing were turned away temporarily because electronic voting machines were not working. The poll workers later reverted to paper ballots and began welcoming voters, Melamed said."
http://www.cleveland.com/weblogs/ele...s/2006_11.html

FBI Investigating Va. Voter Calls
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...p105851S56.DTL

[octothorp]

So far it's actually pretty smooth. The litmus test will be seeing how the polling stations perform as they approach their closing deadlines, and how the results match expectations.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by octothorp

So far it's actually pretty smooth. The litmus test will be seeing how the polling stations perform as they approach their closing deadlines, and how the results match expectations.

I disagree things are running smoothly, but I do agree that we won't really understand what's happening until tomorrow and beyond.

There are judges all over the US currently rulling on whether to extend the voting period by, in some cases, up to 3 hours because of delays.

On CNN they just showed one polling station in Colorado that has a line stretching back for four blocks.

This is very serious, senate careers could made or destroyed, like Ricky Santorum in Pennsylvania, which is reporting some problems.

[ericschand]

Here, follow along at CNN.

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/

ers

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Santorum is going to lose anyway, barring a miracle. But overall, voting problems will benefit one party or another depending on where they occur. If they're in inner-city districts, it benefits the GOP. In rural districts, it will benefit democrats.

Sometimes the problems seem to be caused by the simple fact that there are too many voters in one place. What would happen if they got 100% voter turnout? The system would slow to a standstill.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Here's an interesting example:

Missouri's secretary of state asked for photo ID to vote despite law being struck down
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (CNN) -- Secretary of State Robin Carnahan walked into the main election office in St. Louis last Friday to cast her absentee ballot and was taken aback when a poll worker asked her to show photo identification.

"I presented my voter registration card, the one you get in the mail with your name, address and polling location, and was asked by a lady -- who was very nice -- for a photo ID. I said, 'Why are

Carnahan, the state's top elections official, told CNN Tuesday she tried to explain to the poll worker that a photo ID is not necessary to vote in Missouri -- the state's Supreme Court struck down the requirement on Oct. 16 -- but was asked two more times for such identification.

"She didn't know who I was, but when she saw my last name, she asked, 'Are you Russ' sister?' referring to my brother who is a congressman," said Carnahan.

Democrat Russ Carnahan represents the state's Third Congressional District.

The poll worker checked with her on-site supervisor and reported back to Carnahan that indeed photo identification would not be necessary to cast a ballot.

Gee--you'd think POLL WORKERS would know what the rules are!

[Stumptown]

As time goes on, I'm happier and happier with Oregon's vote-by-mail system. I'm surprised more states aren't considering it. Voter turn-out (or turn-in) is very high, doesn't suffer from "irregularities" beyond the margin of error, and we don't have to stand out in the rain (5 inches in two days) to vote. I sent my ballot in weeks ago, now I just get to sit back and watch the rest of the country deal with their problems.

[Bobblehead]

I always find it remarkable that Canada doesn't seem to have near the issues. I don't know that O've ever hda to wait more than 20 minutes (and I only recall that once) and I've voted in every election I've been eligible to vote in (20 years worth).

Do they just have more people / polling station in the US?

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

I never really understood all the problems either.
Why all the hubub about electronic ballots? Is it becasue they have to vote for so damn many things (corroner, sheriff, judges, dog catcher, milkman, etc), that paper ballots are too much to handle?

[Mccree]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I always find it remarkable that Canada doesn't seem to have near the issues. I don't know that O've ever hda to wait more than 20 minutes (and I only recall that once) and I've voted in every election I've been eligible to vote in (20 years worth).

Do they just have more people / polling station in the US?

That is one giant sig.

I have always wondered the same thing. Something to be said about pencil and paper.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Mccree

That is one giant sig.

Not anymore.

See the Ken's thread Other Sports forum for more info.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I disagree things are running smoothly, but I do agree that we won't really understand what's happening until tomorrow and beyond.

There are judges all over the US currently rulling on whether to extend the voting period by, in some cases, up to 3 hours because of delays.

Yeah, I take it back. Things are starting to look pretty bad.

[Displaced Flames fan]

We had new voting machines in my precinct. Touch screen voting. High tech baby!

I noticed a much smoother and quicker process in precinct 413.

They also had the OPTION of using paper ballots. They weren't there just in case the machines got screwed up.

It took me 45 minutes less to vote today than it did in '04.

I also noticed that the register I was signing was a lot more full than I had anticipated. It looked to be close to 50% and it was still relatively early when I voted 4:30 PM.