Voting Problems Roundup: Election Morning

Problems Are Popping Up In Several Key States

(CBS)  CBS News Investigative Producer Wendy Krantz and Kim Lengle wrote this story for CBSNews.com.

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Just a few hours into Election Day, problems are popping up in several key states with long lines and broken machines all against the backdrop of what is expected to be the largest turnout in history. As of right now, one national voter protection group says it has received 27,000 reports of problems.

- In Virginia, problems at polling places have been reported from over ten locations all across the state, including Richmond, Portsmouth, Lynchburg, Chesapeake, Vienna, Newport News and Virginia Beach, according to voter protection groups. The most common complaints are about long lines. However, problems with voter registration and polling machines not functioning properly in several locations has also been reported. Some voters are reporting there have been no offers of paper ballots. And even as of 7am, Some polling places were not open.

- The Washington Post reports that some precincts have discovered an unusual weather-related problem. Rain in some areas of the state have been causing problems with the optical scanners because of wet ballots.

- In Pennsylvania, Bethlehem, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have reported a number of problems with voting machine malfunctions in, as well as major breakdowns at three precincts in Allegheny County.
CBS Newshas confirmed with state officials that there have been machine malfunctions throughout the state.

- There have been reports of a few precincts in Philadelphia running out of paper ballots. People have been given provisional ballots in these cases. (If 50 percent or fewer of the voting machines are working, polling officials must provide paper ballots to voters, according to a recent ruling by a judge.) State guidelines also dictate that these provisional ballots must be marked “emergency,” so they will be counted with the rest of the ballots today.

- The McCain/Palin campaign has sent out an email stating that Republican election board workers in at least six precincts in Philadelphia have been tossed by the Democrat judge of elections. The reason provided was that they are the “minority party.” They are seeking an injunction in court today for the improper removal of “credentialed” poll workers.

- In Ohio, voting rights groups have received reports out of Columbus that many people are experiencing problems with malfunctioning voter machines, resulting in long lines. In a few of these locations, they say, the machines are not working at all.

[thcarson-2009]

In Philly, Black Panthers are acting as "Bouncers" at polling locations around the city...intimidating voters as they approach or enter.


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Posted by tcoleman12

It''s a shame nobody is reporting on this, I guess this is the civilian security force Obama was talking about.

[trueblueusa]

Mr.McCain`s''s failure (so far) is evidence that the dumbing down of America has reached another important milestone. When the majority of us are ignorant enough to want the leader of this country to be an uncredentialed puppet, who has vowed to rewrite the constitution and reinvent the United States of America as a nation led by a dictator, we have indeed becoming a nation of primarily illiterates.

God did indeed bless America when he senator Obama in a position to lead our once proud nation !--------The GOP SECT is dead ! Welcome Our New Leader!

[tcoleman12]

Actually, the Secretary of State in Virginia is a Democrat, so hopefully the election won''''t be stolen there. We will NOT let this election be stolen like in 2000.

Posted by emendel at 03:40 PM : Nov 04, 2008

Well, they are working hard to do just that... Absentee ballots for troops oversees were mailed out/received in late, therefore, they do not want to count them. If anyone''s vote in this country should count it is that of the troops.

In Philly, Black Panthers are acting as "Bouncers" at polling locations around the city...intimidating voters as they approach or enter.

[inventagod2]

Vote using paper ballots.

Hand count those votes.

It''s too important.
Let the news services wait. It''s OK!

[noloyalisti]

Welcome to the banana republic of America, the country of fraudulent elections. I have to say from here (the left coast), almost all the corruption and dirty stuff is done by Republicons. You know those that claim to be for freedom but are against it. Who claim to be patriotic but are anti-American Constitution and rule of law. We ALL know to VOTE FOR OBAMA AND THE DEMOCRATS across the board.

[tdlinda]

We were at the voting book in Brooklyn, NY @ 6:15 AM. (Dyker heights) I was happy to see the huge turn out. We still have the older voting machines. In all my years of voting have never heard anyone complain about these machines. Perhaps they should look into keeping them and using them as a model.

[rickwar]

Simple answer to a made complex situation. Paper Ballots

[solsenz]

It''s unforgiveable and unconstitutional if the government and the citizens allow this to happen again! Vote strong, smart, and demand action!It''s not patriotic to misrepresent voters!

[jbeckett5]

I''m in suburban TN. We voted during the noon hour. There were about 30 people in line. I didn''t see any lack of orderliness or infractions of voting rules. We were done in 45 minutes. The counter on the scanner said 1020 (usually it runs about 700 at the end of the day), and the workers said turnout had been heavy. Here at least, this is how an election should be run.

[emendel]

Actually, the Secretary of State in Virginia is a Democrat, so hopefully the election won''t be stolen there. We will NOT let this election be stolen like in 2000.

[velma179]

PLEASE REPORT ANY PROBLEMS WITH VOTING.

VOTING IS YOUR RIGHT AND RESPONSIBILITY. No one should be allowed to take it or restrict it.

Call your local Registrar Office, your Secretary of State office or a national Voter Hotline (offered by non-partisan Common Cause)

1-866--687-8683 -- 866-OUR-VOTE

OR CALL ALL OF THEM.

The hindrances to voting have to be stopped.

[popstom12]

hahahahahahaha now it starts

[obbcbs]

Please help us in virginia... Losing our right to vote.

In Virginia:

Dozens of polling places are experiencing varying degrees of machine malfunction. Some polling places are either completely closed or have been closed for hours.
Thousands of voters may have been turned away illegally by polling workers.
Voters have illegally been issued with provisional ballets where machines have been broken.
Students at Virginia Tech, previously the victims of misinformation, have seen their polling place suddenly and unexpectedly moved six miles to a location with little parking


Posted by faleyg123 at 02:16 PM : Nov 04, 2008

You and your fellow students will have to actually take action yourselves.
Elect local senate members and state sec of state who are Democrats.
As long as the GOP runs the mechanisms of the process, they use their power to win by interesting means, such as moving the polling place with no notice, not providing enough machines, and not providing enough ballots. In black areas, there are half the machines per person as white areas. You cannot leave it to others. It is a time-eater.
Start by eliminating computers from the process completely. They guarantee stolen elections.

[obbcbs]

In the meantime, say goodbye to the liberties that have been our hallmark. They will soon be nothing more than a memory.

Posted by pjeh at 02:44

You apparently missed the reality show where Bush and McCain and Rove ended the constitutional right to habeas corpus.
Only Obama will restore it.

[obbcbs]

In Ohio, voting rights groups have received reports out of Columbus that many people are experiencing problems with malfunctioning voter machines, resulting in long lines. In a few of these locations, they say, the machines are not working at all. "

The charm of the GOP is that they get to talk sanctimonious while acting like Latin American dictators.
Are you young or black?
Wanna vote? Ok, but you get to stand on line and there is no actual voting machine.

[levi3151]

My husband and I showed up to vote about 10 am. 3 very ancient voting machines but all working just fine. Waited less than 5 minutes. Saw many of our neighbors and friends, some Republicans, some Democrats, some undecided until the last minute. Young, old, black, white...we were all voting for what we think is the best. Great experience for the new younger voters in our area.
Pennsylvania is an important state, and we were glad to be able to vote in this historic election. Hope that after any of the bad starts, that we can all be proud that we voted, even if there was some adversity with mechanical problems, weather, perceived "intimidations", etc. We must be one to bring us back to our best as a nation and as a people!
Good luck everyone who has not voted yet!

[pjeh]

Mr. Obama''s success (so far) is evidence that the dumbing down of America has reached another important milestone. When the majority of us are ignorant enough to want the leader of this country to be an uncredentialed puppet, who has vowed to rewrite the constitution and reinvent the United States of America as a Socialist nation led by a dictator, we have indeed becoming a nation of primarily illiterates.

God did indeed bless America, and He would like nothing more than to bless us once again, as soon as we, like our forefathers, honor and obey Him. In the meantime, say goodbye to the liberties that have been our hallmark. They will soon be nothing more than a memory.

[pjeh]

Mr. Obama''s success (so far) is evidence that the dumbing down of America has reached another important milestone. When the majority of us are ignorant enough to want the leader of this country to be an uncredentialed puppet, who has vowed to rewrite the constitution and reinvent the United States of America as a Socialist nation led by a dictator, we have indeed becoming a nation of primarily illiterates.

God did indeed bless America, and He would like nothing more than to bless us once again, as soon as we, like our forefathers, honor and obey Him. In the meantime, say goodbye to the liberties that have been our hallmark. They will soon be nothing more than a memory.

[ord6591]

Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Voters wishing to cast their ballots a day early waited as long as two hours at the Board of Elections in downtown Cleveland.
Despite the weather and wait times, the mood was upbeat and at times celebratory. Supporters of Barack Obama led chants of "Yes We Can," a phrase that has become ubiquitous at Obama rallies. Volunteers from the Obama campaign distributed campaign literature, stickers, bottles of water and snacks to voters in line at this largely democratic precinct. Early voters are not required to show ID when they vote at the Board of Elections so problems were kept to a minimum, says Mike West, spokesman for the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. Tomorrow, voters will have to have proper photo identification in order to vote which has led to problems in the past.
______________________________________________________
Where I live there is a prohibition against distributing campaign material to anyone within 100 ft of the entrance to the polling place, and gee - 2 hour waits in line to vote so nobody will check your identification to make sure that you are voting legally - is a small price to pay for that particular brand of politics.

[aerhed]

The sign on the highway for our little Wyoming town says pop. 75. I voted a 10AM and was #201 through the optical scanner. Now that''s a turnout!