Election Day reports as they happened on November 7, 2006

Election Day reports as they happened on November 7, 2006. A collection of voting machine problems catalogued as they were reported. From the Bradblog, http://www.bradblog.com/

MELTDOWN '06: Orange County CA Candidate Says Machines Down, No Paper Ballots Available…
Voters in Predominently Dem Areas Unable to Vote, Some Voting on Paper Ballots in Chinese and Vietnamese as English Ballots Not Available…
Posted By Brad On 7th November 2006 @ 14:24 In ES&S, Bruce McPherson, California, Election Reform, Election 2006, Emergency Paper Ballot Legislation | 12 Comments

I just got off the phone with Steve Young, the Democratic candidate in CA-48 (Orange County). He reports that his office is receiving calls from at least 8 precincts of voting machines down with no paper ballots available for voters. All, he says, in strongly Democratic areas of the otherwise conservative Orange County. I believe they use ES&S voting machines down there.

He says voters were either being turned away without being able to vote at all, or voting on Chinese and Vietnamese paper ballots — since English ones are not available — just so they are able to vote!

By the time we were done with the call, a staffer came in with a report from machines down in a Republican area, but said the machines were fixed quickly, whereas one of the reports you'll see below (transcribed during our quick phone conversation) shows poll workers repeatedly trying to get help from the Registrar to no avail.

NOTE FROM PHONE CALL WITH STEVE YOUNG (CA-48)

Calls coming in to our office, 8 reports all in highly Democratic precincts…
8:35am - Two precincts in an elementary school (#59100 and #59102) had no machines working, no paper ballots, at least 15 people were seen leaving the polls without voting.
8:40am - All machines down in polling place with two precincts in it (#'s 59058 & 5916) all machines down, no English paper ballots, people voted on Chinese and Vietnamese ballots just to vote!
9:10am - Same precincts and also #59161 is completely out of paper ballots.
9:30am - Another precinct (I didn't get the number) had two of the machines down, line is out the door (at least 40 people reported to be in line)
Within the hour - Prcts #59075 and 59076, machines down, poll workers tried six times to get attention to fix the machines.
We're in contact with the Registrar, they promise they're going to deliver English paper ballots to all of the precincts. They claim they are telling poll workers that folks should vote on paper and that they don't have to vote on the machine….if there are such ballots available of course.
Please note, a memo from the CA Sec. of State [1] last month had said all voters who wished to vote on paper in California may do so, but he left it up to them how many would be "an adequate supply." He also said they should be counted as "normal ballots" and not as provisional ballots which are usually counted days later, if ever. None of those orders seems to be being enforced anywhere in CA, as far as I can tell.

Article printed from The BRAD BLOG: http://www.bradblog.com

URL to article: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=3748

URLs in this post:
[1] memo from the CA Sec. of State: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=3626

MELTDOWN '06: 'Voting Nightmare' Reported by Denver Post
Dems Seek Extension of Voting Times after Hundreds of Voters Turned Away from Polls as Machines Fail…
'We Will Not Get to Vote Today' Says Voter Turned Away After an Hour Who Had Arrived at 6:45am…
Posted By Brad On 7th November 2006 @ 13:19 In Election Irregularities, Colorado, Election 2006, Emergency Paper Ballot Legislation | 16 Comments

[1]From Denver Post… [2]

Democratic party leaders are planning to seek a two-hour extension for voting in Denver, due to massive computer problems which have created long lines, and kept many from casting their vote.
…
The problems began right at 7 a.m. as computer problems at the voter-check in stations bogged down, creating a bottleneck in the first hour of voting as a rush to the polls overloaded the system.
…
At Denver Botanic Gardens, more than 200 voters backed up in a line that stretched out of the gates and down the block more than half way to 11th Avenue.

"We will not get to vote today," said a frustrated Lauren Brockman as he left the Botanic Gardens.
He lined up at 6:45 a.m. hoping to beat the rush, only to stand in line for close to an hour before leaving.
But an hour wait was short, compared to some.

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URL to article: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=3747

URLs in this post:
[1] Image: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_4616285
[2] From Denver Post…: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_4616285

MELTDOWN '06: AP - 'Polling places turn to paper ballots after glitches'
Voting Machine Companies (as expected) Blame 'Human Error'… (True enough, since the idiots who created these machines, and agreed to use them are most likely 'human')
Posted By Brad On 7th November 2006 @ 13:08 In ES&S, Election Irregularities, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Election 2006 | 2 Comments

First, they're not "glitches"…They are failures! This from AP… [1]

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.

In Cleveland, voters rolled their eyes as election workers fumbled with new touchscreen machines that they couldn't get to start properly until about 10 minutes after polls opened.
"We got five machines — one of them's got to work," said Willette Scullank, a troubleshooter from the Cuyahoga County, Ohio, elections board.
In Indiana's Marion County, about 175 of 914 precincts turned to paper ballots because poll workers didn't know how to run the machines, said Marion County Clerk Doris Ann Sadler. She said it could take most of the day to fix all of the machine-related issues.
Election officials in Delaware County, Indiana, extended voting hours because voters initially couldn't cast ballots in 75 precincts. County Clerk Karen Wenger said the cards that activate the push-button machines were programmed incorrectly but the problems were fixed by late morning.
Pennsylvania's Lebanon County also extended polling hours because a programming error forced some voters to cast paper ballots.
As expected — and you'll be seeing and hearing a lot of this all night — the Voting Machine Companies who have created the equivalent of Ford Pintos with these machine that "blow up" during normal use, no matter how careful a "driver" might be, are blaming "human error"…as opposed to themselves…and the election officials who were dumb enough to be suckered in by the wining and dining and false promises of the company lobbyists who are plying their insidious trade courtesy of your tax payer dollars…

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."

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URL to article: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=3746

URLs in this post:
[1] This from AP…: http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/07/voting.problems.ap/index.html

Click here to print.

MELTDOWN '06: Diebold Voting Machines Failing to Start Up in Utah, Voters Being Turned Away…
Smartcard Encoders Reportedly Not Working…Paper Ballots Not Available Everywhere…
Posted By Brad On 7th November 2006 @ 12:17 In Diebold, Election Irregularities, Bruce Funk, Utah, Election 2006 | 9 Comments

From Salt Lake Tribune [1] in Utah, the state which ran the 23-year elected Emery County, UT Election Administrator, Bruce Funk out of a job [2] when he dared allowed independent investigators to test the new Diebold touch-screen systems forced on him by the state…

Utah County voters planning to cast their ballots on the way to work were stymied by technical problems with the state's new voting machines, while some in Salt Lake City also saw delays at the polls.

Robert Nelson was among those in Provo and other locations in Utah County who were unable to cast their votes using the new voting machines when the polls opened. After arriving at his polling location at 7 a.m., Nelson said he spent an hour and a half hoping the machines would be fixed.
"The workers were earnestly trying to get the machines to work, but not a one in our precint worked," Nelson said. "I work in Salt Lake City, so I couldn't wait for the machines to work."
Similar reports came in from other areas in Utah County, including Lindon. The clerk's office said the problem had been solved and the machines were up and running as of 8:55 a.m.
In Salt Lake City, some locations only had one machine up and running when the polls opened at 7 a.m.
No voting machines were initially operational at Highland High School, although some 25 people were already waiting in line to vote when the location opened.
The local ABC affiliate is reporting [3] the Lt. Governor (a big supporter of Diebold, as we recall) says the problem is in the voting card encoders…

Utah's Lt. Governor Gary Herbert says voting machine encoders, used to program individual user cards have been incorrectly programmed, causing delays for many voters, primarily in Utah County.

Herbert says the problem is associated with voter card encoding machines, which have failed to function properly.
…
Many voters have experienced delays, and have been told to come back later.
Some voters have opted to use paper ballots, which are also available at most, if not all polling locations.
Herbert says the primary encoding machine problem has not been fixed, but provisional systems have been put in place and no one should be turned away.
Too late, Lt. Governor. Nice going.

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URL to article: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=3745

URLs in this post:
[1] From Salt Lake Tribune: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_4616716
[2] Bruce Funk out of a job: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=2904
[3] local ABC affiliate is reporting: http://www.abc4.com/local_news/local_headlines/story.aspx?content_id=9AAE3546-7D
9D-46F0-B685-E21BBA506EB8

MELTDOWN '06: Pennsylvania Tops List of Complaints So Far Coming in to Election Incident Hotline as of Noon ET
Right-Wing Talk Show Host Encourages Listeners to Jam Voter Complaint Hotline…
Posted By Brad On 7th November 2006 @ 12:01 In Pennsylvania, Election 2006, Dirty Tricks, Laura Ingraham | 5 Comments

These are the top ten states, currently, regarding incident/problem reports coming in to the non-partisan 866-OUR-VOTE hotline. Pennsylvania leads the problem calls so far this morning. They are using paperless touch-screen systems in many counties for the first time this year…

By Total Calls
State Calls
PA 841
NY 399
MI 313
NC 239
CA 228
OH 225
AZ 164
MA 142
GA 131
IL 129
Total 2,811
In a related matter, the unspeakable democracy-hater/ABC radio talk-show host Laura Ingraham has apparently encouraged listeners during her morning talk show to jam a different hotline sponsored by the Democrats. Reportedly "crank calls are now flooding in" on that number. Amazing. Firedoglake advises [1] that Ingraham can be emailed here [2].

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URL to article: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=3744

URLs in this post:
[1] Firedoglake advises: http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/11/07/repeat-robocalls-suck-blame-the-gop/
[2] emailed here: http://www.lauraingraham.com/asklaura;jsessionid=3D4556FA1C348C1FE9A9D1D85198BED
0

MELTDOWN '06: Myriad Problems Reported to Local News Outlet in Chicago…
Posted By Brad On 7th November 2006 @ 11:47 In Election Irregularities, Sequoia Voting Systems, Illinois, Election 2006, Emergency Paper Ballot Legislation | 1 Comment

From machines not working or being available when the polls opened, to votes flipping on touch-screens and more…They use Sequoia machines in Chicago. Reports from voters as posted by the local NBC affiliate… [1]

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URL to article: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=3743

URLs in this post:
[1] posted by the local NBC affiliate…: http://www.nbc5.com/politics/10263755/detail.html

MELTDOWN '06: Missouri Election Integrity Org Says More Reports of Touch-Screen Vote Flipping…
Posted By Brad On 7th November 2006 @ 11:40 In Election Irregularities, Election 2006, Missouri, Touch-Screen Vote Hopping | 3 Comments

Missourians for Honest Elections [1] reports more incoming reports of votes-flipping on touch-screen systems in the Show-Me State. All polls in MO should have paper ballots (we are told), so voters can choose to vote that way instead. Their news release, with specific details of where the reports are coming from, follows in full…

PRESS RELEASE FROM MISSOURIANS FOR HONEST ELECTIONS - NOV. 7

As of 8:00 a.m. the non-partisan group Missourians for Honest Elections has already received news of two incidents in today's election in which touch screen machines incorrectly recorded voters' intentions. These occurred at the Brentwood Community Center in St. Louis County.
There have also been several verified reports from voters in St. Louis County who had this happen to them when trying vote absentee at the St. Louis County Board of Elections in Maplewood. We have had an unsatisfactory, mixed response from the County Board of Elections concerning this matter.
In order to ensure that votes are counted correctly in this election, Missourians for Honest Elections recommends that all voters use a paper ballot at the polls today.
This ballot will be scanned by an optical scanning machine and saved as a reliable record of your vote in case of a recount.
The Secretary of State has assured us that there will be a sufficient number of paper ballots available at all polling places throughout the state today. We strongly urge voters to use them! The optically scanned paper ballot, in addition to being a more reliable voting method than the touch screen, is easy to use and reduces the chance that voters will have to reveal their choices to another person if they require assistance. This privacy issue came to our attention when a voter complained that it took him three attempts and the help of two elections officials before he was satisfied
that his vote was properly recorded.
The St. Louis County Board of Elections claims that touch screen machines are secure and reliable, but the consensus of computer scientists is that they are not. And, in the words of former Chair of the Federal Election Assistance Commission, De Forest Soaries, "We know more today about how to build a machine to take pictures of rocks on Mars than we know how to build a machine to safeguard the American right to vote."
We advise anyone who has a problem voting today to contact 866-OUR-VOTE.
———————————————————————————–
Missourians for Honest Elections (MoHE) has been in existence as an alliance of small local groups of election integrity activists since early 2005. We believe that local action is the key to changing the electoral system, and are devoted to grassroots organizing. Voting, which began, even in this country, as a privilege, has evolved into a human right and must be nurtured and protected by the citizenry.
For more information contact Cynthia Richards, XXX-XXX-XXXX, or Martha Scheer, XXX-XXX-XXXX, or visit our website, www.MoHonestElections.org [2]

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URL to article: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=3742

URLs in this post:
[1] Missourians for Honest Elections: http://www.MoHonestElections.org
[2] www.MoHonestElections.org: http://www.MoHonestElections.org

MELTDOWN '06: USA Today Reports 'Voting machine problems bedevil multiple states'
Trouble With Machines in Indiana, Florida, Ohio, Illinois
And we're just getting started…More here soon…
Posted By Brad On 7th November 2006 @ 11:23 In Election Irregularities, Ohio, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Election 2006 | 11 Comments

We're gonna have trouble keeping up today. So 'be the media' in comments here where you can. But here we go…

We're getting reports of trouble and machine breakdowns from all over the country. Places where Emergency Paper Ballots are not available (despite our many pleas for weeks) and voters are being turned away or told to come back later…From USA Today… [1]

•In Indiana's Marion County, about 175 of 914 precincts turned to paper because poll workers didn't know how to run the machines, said Marion County Clerk Doris Ann Sadler.

• Election officials in Delaware County, Ind., planned to seek a court order to extend voting after an apparent computer error prevented voters from casting ballots in 75 precincts. Delaware County Clerk Karen Wenger said the cards that activate the machines were programmed incorrectly. "We are working with precincts one-by-one over the telephone to get the problem fixed," Wenger said.
• Illinois officials were swamped with calls from voters complaining that poll workers did not know how to operate new electronic equipment
• In Ohio, some machines wouldn't function."We got five machines — one of them's got to work," said Willette Scullank, a troubleshooter from the Cuyahoga County, Ohio, elections board.
• In Florida, voting was briefly delayed at four districts because of either mixed up ballots or electronic activators being unintentionally wiped out, according to Mary Cooney, spokeswoman for the Broward County Supervisor of Elections. Voters were forced to use paper ballots after an electronic machine broke in the Jacksonville suburb of Orange Park.

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URL to article: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=3741

URLs in this post:
[1] From USA Today…: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-11-07-election-main_x.htm

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