Some Early Voting Problems
The Associated Press is reporting some early glitches with voting. Some of it appears to be poll workers just not being familiar enough with the new voting machines. And that appears to be the consensus among non-partisan observers so far as well.
Programming errors and inexperience dealing with electronic voting machines frustrated poll workers in hundreds of precincts early Tuesday, delaying voters in Indiana, Ohio and Florida and leaving some with little choice but to use paper ballots instead.
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"This is largely what I expected," said Doug Chapin, director of Electionline.org, a nonpartisan group that tracks voting changes. "With as much change as we had, expecting things to go absolutely smoothly at the beginning of the day is too optimistic."
A precinct in Orange Park, Fla., turned to paper ballots because of machine problems. Voting was delayed for 30 minutes or more at some Broward County precincts, where electronic ballots were mixed up and, in one case, a poll worker unintentionally wiped the electronic ballot activators.
In Illinois, some voters found the new equipment cumbersome.
"People seem to be very confused about how to use the new system," said Bryan Blank, a 33-year-old librarian from Oak Park, Ill. "There was some early morning disarray."
But voting equipment companies said they hadn't seen anything beyond the norm and blamed the problems largely on human error.
"Any time there's more exposure to equipment, there are questions about setting up the equipment and things like that," said Ken Fields, a spokesman for Election Systems & Software Inc. "Overall, things are going very well."
Some voters even liked the new ballots.
"It was much clearer on what you were voting for and you made sure you absolutely were voting for what you wanted to vote for," said Cathy Schaefer, 59, of Cincinnati.
Other problems had nothing to do with machines. A location in Columbus, Ohio, opened a few minutes late because of a break-in at the school where the precinct is located.
My polling place had one electronic machine but I was offered my choice of using that machine or using the old paper ballot right away. I chose paper since the electronic machine was in use. I prefer the paper ballot, anyway. Those poll workers are doing their level best to do a good job. They deserve our thanks.
Once again, there are things you can do to ensure you get to vote.
