Problems May Stall Super Tuesday Results

Worker Shortages, Faulty Machines And Other Difficulties Might Spell Trouble On Feb. 5

(AP)  Long lines, a shortage of poll workers and unprecedented numbers of mail-in ballots could delay vote counts in the biggest-ever Super Tuesday in American politics - a day in which nearly half the nation will cast ballots.

A record 24 states hold primaries and caucuses Tuesday, the result of a stampede by states to gain prestige and wield clout by moving up voting dates in the Democratic and Republican nominating races for the White House. These all-out charges toward Tuesday provide ample opportunities for confusion and stalled tallies, voting advocates say.

Adding to the list of possible delays: expectations of record-breaking voter turnout in contests expected to be close. Many of the states that moved up primaries have never been involved in one with meaningful impact, often resulting in low turnout in the past, said Tova Wang of The Century Foundation think tank.

So on Super Duper Tuesday, or Tsunami Tuesday, as some also have called it, voters across the country could face a number of difficulties - some new, some reincarnations of elections past.

In their haste to move up primaries, officials in some states appear to have overlooked ordinary facts of life, such as the weather and the advanced age of many poll workers. Cold northeastern states including Connecticut and New York have encountered problems recruiting poll workers because many senior citizens, a sizable percentage of paid volunteers, are still south for the winter. Snow in the middle of winter also could have an impact, especially if there's bad weather on one end of a state and good weather on the other.

"There's been a lot of concern about the weather, and poll workers not showing up," said Wang. "In states where a lot of their senior citizens are snowbirds, counties were having a hard time getting poll volunteers."

A significant shortage of poll workers forced Linda von Nessi, clerk to the Essex County Board of Election in New Jersey, to advertise in local newspapers. "People were either in Florida or they didn't want to commit because of the possibility of cold weather," she said. She has added 207 people to replace her diminished ranks. "We've never had to hire that many new people," she said.

But even sunbelt states have felt the pinch. As of Thursday, some California election officials were still recruiting poll workers on their Internet sites.

Super Tuesday "is really like a national primary," said Doug Chapin of electionline.org, funded by The Pew Center on the States. "And the thing that's really striking about 2008 is we're still seeing a tremendous amount of change and a great deal of uncertainty" in the final days leading to Super Tuesday.

If state contests produce tight margins and too-close-to-call races, Chapin said demands for recounts could abound. In New Hampshire, Democrats asked for a recount after Jan. 8 primary results differed widely from pre-election polls.

"If people are unhappy with the results, you may see the same kind of back-and-forth we saw in 2000," Chapin said, when Florida's recount went to the U.S. Supreme Court and George W. Bush was declared the victor weeks after the November election.

In California, the most populated state and highest possessor of electoral votes, some election officials have already warned that vote counts will be far later than normal. Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan said record numbers of mail-in ballots and an anticipated deluge of voters could delay final primary results.

Election officials in 21 other counties, including heavily populated Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino and Santa Clara, are struggling to implement what many consider a last-minute shift from controversial electronic machines to paper ballots. The change was mandated after the secretary of state decertified nearly all the state's electronic voting machines, saying they were vulnerable to errors and sabotage.

In some areas, stacks of paper ballots must be driven to centralized counting facilities and fed by hand into optical scanners. Mail-in ballots, estimated at 40 percent of the vote in Los Angeles County, also must be hand-fed into counting machines. A test run in San Bernardino County showed that scanners could only count 10,000 votes per hour.

Some local elections officials say that could lead to an increase in ballot errors, such as voting twice or leaving races blank. Without those machines at individual precincts, poll workers will not be able to catch mistakes until hours later at county headquarters.

"It's much more work for our poll workers," said San Bernardino County Registrar Kari Verjil. "It's very time consuming."

Verjil has 4,000 touch-screen machines sitting in storage, for which the county paid $16 million.

"It's going to be a return to all these things that got us going with electronic voting in the first place," said northern California Contra Costa County registrar Steve Weir, who also heads the statewide registrars association.

After Congress enacted the Help America Vote Act in 2002 - which was designed to prevent another election disaster - electronic voting was accepted by several states as the answer to cumbersome paper ballots, which must be fed into counting machines or tallied with optical scanners.

State officials in Colorado also have decertified electronic machines, citing the possibility of malfunctions and errors, though machines will not be used in Tuesday's caucuses.

In Florida - where the "hanging chad" paper ballot debacle of 2000 prompted all 67 counties to embrace touch-screen machines - state officials will now no longer use most of them. This week's primary marked the last use for most of the 250,000 machines. In November, voters will cast paper ballots read by optical scanners - a reversal prompted by several factors, including pressure from voting activists and a federal investigation under way in Sarasota to determine if touch-screen machines there failed to record 18,000 votes during the 2006 congressional election.

Despite record turnout this week, Florida's primary went smoothly.

E-voting - which accounts for about 40 percent of voting technology used in the U.S., according to activist group Verified Voting - continues to spark controversy in other states as well.

For example, New Jersey officials failed to meet a state-ordered deadline to install paper printers on some machines to provide written proof of a voter's choice. So on Tuesday, voters will continue to use electronic machines - devices that voting activists say are unreliable and prone to error because they produce no paper or audit trail.

Producing identification at polling places is another troublesome issue, according to voters rights groups.

Georgia, which requires photo ID at precincts, faces its first statewide test of the law enacted after a long court battle. State officials have conducted public education campaigns, listing the type of photo identification that meets the state rule. They include: a Georgia driver's license, even if expired; a military ID; an American Indian tribal ID; or a U.S. passport.

Voters who lack such documentation can receive a free state photo ID. In some precincts, that identification can be issued at the polling place while would-be voters wait.

But that does little to appease civil rights groups and voting rights organizations that say the law disenfranchises minorities and the elderly - those most at risk for lacking such documentation.

The U.S. Supreme Court is weighing whether a similar, but more restrictive, Indiana law violates the Constitution. A decision is expected this summer.

Arizona, too, faces criticism over state rules demanding photo ID at the polls - as well as requiring that proof of citizenship be shown when registering to vote. Unlike Indiana and Georgia, Arizona allows voters to produce two other forms of ID, such as utility and telephone bills, if they lack photo identification.

A coalition of citizens' groups including the League of Women Voters of Arizona, the League of United Latin American Citizens and People For the American Way Foundation, filed suit against the law, saying it deprived residents of their right to vote.

The suit is pending. Legal efforts by the coalition to temporarily block the law have failed.

Tuesday's primary will be the first election for national office in Arizona using the ID rule since it was approved by ballot initiative in 2004.

Arizona officials say the rule does not cause a hardship, it merely bolsters existing law that stipulates only U.S. citizens have the right to vote.

Minority groups scoff at that.

"It's an unnecessary and very harmful obstacle to voter registration," said Nina Perales, an attorney with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, which is a party to the lawsuit.

"There is a disparate effect on Latinos. There are many people who don't have documentation that proves they're a citizen."

No matter what happens on Super Tuesday, there is an upside to voting this early in so many states, voting advocates say.

"If there really are problems, that gives states longer than they'd normally have to fix them before the November election," said electiononline.org's Chapin.

[slpdisk]

Corrupt Voting machines have been exposed from TLC to HBO they should be made illegal. These machines were meant and made to be hacked. G o o g le diebold voting scandal. What is wrong with this country have we no shame.

[erasmus6]

Posted by IRLiberal at 03:34 AM : Feb 01, 2008


I agree 100%!

The sad thing is though, I think that the vast majority of Americans have so much HATRED that I don''t think that it is going to matter who becomes president, they will be able to do nothing right.

As for Hillary, people keep saying she was for the war but can''t a person change their mind? I am not an American but I was for that war. The reason was to eliminate a ruler who was torturing and killing his people. That doesn''t mean that I agree with the way things are now turning out.

Also, it may just not be possible to haul the troops out immediately. A lot of damage could be done if that happened. And don''t forget the last time when the troops were pulled out too soon and the world was upset at you for doing it. I do think it is time the troops came home because if the Iraqi people haven''t figured things out by now, they ain''t going.

No matter who becomes president, they are not going to be able to do ANYTHING immediately. It will take time.

[homespunlady]

There are thousands of honest poll-workers at polling places nationwide. The problems that are appearing ARE NOT with our senior citizen poll workers or some individual that might try to vote more than once.

The REAL problem is when THOUSANDS of votes are "lost" due to untraceable machine "malfunctions" or thousands of ballots that mysteriously "disappear'' in transport or out of where they were SUPPOSED to be SECURELY stored.

It DOESN''T take a HUGE group to throw an election.

It just takes a TINY FEW in KEY positions handling KEY areas with access to the FLOW of MASS voting counts!

As an example of how through BUREAUCRATIC MEANS an election can be STOLEN is how an unelected bureaucrat gained a raise:

A local City Administrator "accidentally" wrote in a few cents extra on a local tax reporting form.
The paperwork was forwarded to the State where hundreds of other forms were processed and NOBODY NOTICED the discrepancy.
The result in a town of a little over 2000 people was OVER $40,000 EXTRA in UNAPPROVED TAXES this administrator acquired.
The money through a judicial LOOPHOLE was NEVER returned to the property taxpayers that he effectively STOLE from and he''s STILL running the town.

An election CAN be stolen in the SAME way.

[homespunlady]

An organization called Blackbox Voting IS trying to do something about the QUESTIONABLE voting practices going on in this country.

If New Hampshire is any indication, there will be JAIL TIME for MORE vote riggers like the people that WENT TO JAIL in OHIO for vote manipulation from the LAST Presidential election.

We NEED MORE citizens to ACTIVELY ENFORCE keeping our votes SAFE from "dirty tricks", rigging and manipulation.

STALIN was Right - it''s NOT WHO votes how but WHO COUNTS the vote that matters!!!

Putting QUESTIONABLE machines AND people in charge of those counts, transportation and security of OUR ballots is just leaving a "loophole" so big you could fly a B-2 Bomber through it!!

[homespunlady]

Since ALL the Politicians EXCEPT Ron Paul are only paying lobbyist LIP SERVICE to the ECONOMY I thought THIS tidbit might prove interesting:

"Friday February 1, 10:24 AM EST

HOUSTON (AP) %u2014 Exxon Mobil Corp. on Friday posted the largest annual profit by a U.S. company %u2014 $40.6 billion %u2014 as the world''s biggest publicly traded oil company benefited from historic crude prices at year''s end.

Exxon also set a U.S. record for the biggest quarterly profit, posting net income of $11.7 billion for the final three months of 2007, beating its own mark of $10.71 billion in the fourth quarter of 2005.

The previous record for annual profit was $39.5 billion, which Exxon Mobil made in 2006."

Tell me again WHY BIG OIL NEEDS CORPORATE WELFARE from WE the TAXPAYERS????

[byeneocons]

Brian, you may be right but I sure hope not. Jeb should be satisfied that he and his friends will get royalties for life to NOT drill for oil off the Florida coast, even though it is forbidden. He got those contracts early in his governorship for him and his buddies, with a little help from his brother, the President.

I truly believe when Bush Sr. broke down sobbing in his speech for Jeb''s departure, it was because he knew the wrong member of the lucky sperm club had inherited the White House.

I think most Americans are just glad the Bush years are coming to an end, especially if the Democrats win.
I just hope someday Bush Jr. has to be held accountable for something.

[crater7]

brianbwb;
I AGREE THAT BOTH "libs" AND "neocons" ARE CORRUPT, THE EQUAL PART MAY BE UP FOR DEBATE.

THE FRUSTRATION IS NOT IN QUESTON AS ALL AMERICANS ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS FOR LACK OF LEADERSHIP AND POLICY FOR SOLVING OUR PROBLEMS.

YOUR STATEMENT "REAL LIBERALS" WOULD AGREE TO ALLOW CORPORATIONS TO BASK IN TRIKLE DOWN ECONOMICS, WHILE WATCHING THEM EXPORT AMERICAN JOBS TO SLAVE LABOR COUNTRIES LIKE CHINA AND INDIA." SOUNDS LIKE YOUR DESCRIBING THE CURRENT "THE GREAT PEACEMAKER''S ADMINISTRATION."

lexuther5, LAUNCHED A PERSONAL ATTACK ON ME, MERELY FOR EXPRESSING MY OPONION.

THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT...

[brianbwb-2009]

"At least this time around we know that any problems with the voting processes won''''t be a deliberate fix by the Bush brothers." Posted by ByeNeocons

No, we don''t know that, in fact, the Bush boyz need to make sure that whoever gets in will continue their lunacy, so they can steal even more money, and also delay or deny any attempt to hold them accountable for their war crimes.

[brianbwb-2009]

"After all, your much too stupid to do for your self, right??" Posted by Xlib

Your post suggest that you believe that any of the corrupt politicians on either side (particularly yours) will do anything to curb the corruption that is destroying America. If we borrow more money from China to finance a fake war, then when the dollar collapses, everyone who is not rich will be put to the same test you sak of LexLuthor5.

Impossible, you say? think about it, if the dollar declines much more, the Chinese will be forced to cut their losses by dumping their 1.5 trillion in US debt they are holding. (verifiable, not just some Soros agitprop)

This will force the dollar even further down, making OPEC move to protect the value of their oil, by switching to the Euro as the currency of payment for their oil. Since OPEC has been, since August 19, 1972, the only thing backing the US dollar, it will collapse overnight, resulting in anarchy in the US.

Which of all the candidates has advocated ending the corruption that is pushing the US toward this very scenario? None of them, McCain wants to bomb Iran, which would bring the dollar down within minutes, Mr. Clinton thinks we can wait for some miracle we can''t even define, to pull out of the mess Bush sank us into.

[byeneocons]

At least this time around we know that any problems with the voting processes won''t be a deliberate fix by the Bush brothers.

[xlib]

Here we go!! Now all you leemings get ready to start the wailing of fraud, fixed races, etc, etc. Seems to me this msm site is setting you guys up for a great to start the hate speech.
lexluther5-Your really asking others to pay your way out of this country?? You really are a lib, have others pay your way. How typically progressive. Why, stat and vote for hill or barack. They want to take care of you from cradle to grave. After all, your much too stupid to do for your self, right??
Also, to believe every bit of garbage on this soros owned site makes you a total idiot. I come for the fun.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by crater7

If you peruse some of LexLuthor5''s past posts, you would see that his frustration is a valid one, that Americans both "libs" and "neocons" have been betrayed by Washington, pimping the attitudes of their constituents, while both sides are equally corrupt.

How many real conservatives would agree to borrow trillions and put our GIs into harms''s way because of a series of lies?

How many real "liberals" would agree to allow corporations to bask in trickle down economics, while watching them export American jobs to slave labor countries like China and India?

Now instead of dealing with the train bearing down upon us, most are too busy gainsaying the "other side" to see the imminent danger we are in.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by IRLiberal

You have no idea how I hope your position is an accurate one, but certain positions she has taken, especially vis a vis Iraq, lead me to believe that she is indeed part of the club.

If we were to pull out of Iraq immediately, the only things that would change is the death toll of American GIs, and the massive amount of money being embezzled by the profiteers.

But Mrs. Clinton has stated views that suggest that she thinks we need to continue these war crimes until some as of yet undefined goal is achieved. This does not bode well for our economy, our soldiers, our international reputation, or even our near future.

[alhert6]

HILLARY HAS A NEW CLOTHES LINE AT WALMART.

IT CALLED THE LIAR-EGG BEATERS COLLECTION.

IF YOU DON''T CONSTANTLY TELL LIES, YOUR THUNDER THIGHS FABRIC GETS LIGHTER AND LIGHTER, HIGHLIGHTING YOUR ATTRIBUTES.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by bluestardad

You are most probably correct, they need to hack the machines so the hacks are untraceable, and for the states using paper, they need to find a nice inaccessible place to dump the ballots.

[crater7]

lexluther5,

craterbetweentheears7 here, REMEMBER ME?

I SEE YOU ARE STILL BASHING THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT. EVERYBODY WHO DIFFERS FROM YOUR OPONION (WHATEVER THAT MAY BE) ARE AS YOU SO CLEVERLY PUT IT, DUMB FU#KS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW JUST WHAT YOUR SOLUTIONS ARE TO THE PROBLEMS WE FACE? YOU HAVE A RANT AND RAVE FOR ALL COMMENTS. LET US KNOW WHAT, AND WHO YOU REALLY SUPPORT, AND HOW YOU PLAN TO HANDLE THE PROBLEMS.

AS FOR YOUR FUND, TO LEAVE THIS COUNTRY, PLEASE POST A SITE, SO WE ALL CAN DONATE, OF COURSE WITH THE SOME ASSURANCES YOU WILL KEEP YOUR WORD ON LEAVING.

DIMWIT...........

[cbs_oliver]

Hmmm.

The media predicts long lines.

Will keep some voters home?

What else could they do to discourage folks?

Has a voter supression campaign begun?

Voting days should be national holidays. They should be two or three days long.

It should be required that all employers give voters one of those days off.

Simple, clean, effective.

[bluestardad]

THEY ARE SETTING US UP FOR A RIP OFF OF ANOTHER AMERICAN ELECTION!

AMERICANS DO SOMETHING OR SHUT UP!

[irliberal]

I''''m taking up a collection. Posted by lexluthor5 at 04:27 AM

Hmm you''re taking up a collection to leave the country. Sounds like a social program to me and we know how you hate those. Rather than taking money from us, just leave - and don''t let the screen door hit ya in your biggest talking point on your way out!

[irliberal]

GO HILLARY 08, WOOHOO!!

Those who hate Hillary are:

A) White males who feel inferior before a woman of obvious power.

B) White females who think they should stand by their man, at least as long as it doesn''t interfere with getting their hair done or interrupt their shopping.

C) Republicans, because she would end the Iraq war, balance the budget, and set this country back on the right course it was already on when Bill left office. If all that is possible to do in eight years anyway. You see, a single Hillary term would do much to illustrate to the world what fools the Republicons are and yes, they fear that. They fear it desperately.

D) Religious zealots of all shapes and sizes, who know that Hillary will preserve the line between Church and State, and that the tax free money that flows to pad their coffers and build mega churches and pay for *** scandal lawsuits will likely stop.

E) Hunters, because the NRA tells them think that way. Sure, those independent and fiercely free gun owners, true cows that they are.

F) The rich, who know that they will have a LITTLE LESS money than they do now, because they will be taxed at a higher rate. They might run a little short of cash for that second sailboat or that little villa in France and that JUST WON''T DO!

G) The military establishment , who no longer will get unlimited money to pursue pointless wars. Hillary would make sure the vets were properly taken care of though, something with GW Bush OBVIOUSLY doesn''t care about.