Ohio Primary Today-Problems Early With Machines.

[partylessinOhio]

Widespread problems with new machines across Cuyahoga County. Some polling places locked their doors because of machine problems. Voters were turned away and told to return in the afternoon when hopefully they can vote. Candidates have complained to the Board of Elections because their voters cannot vote.

Petro is more well known in Cuyahoga County so this will help Blackwell by blocking votes for his opponent.

From local television:

Confusion Begins As Polls Open

POSTED: 7:07 am EDT May 2, 2006

SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio -- The polls are open throughout Ohio for residents to cast their votes on various issues and candidates.

NewsChannel5 reported that about 200 election workers will not work the polls because they were confused over the new voting machine.

A resident attempting to cast her vote at Woodberry Elementary School in Shaker Heights left extremely frustrated after growing confused over the machine.

There have been problems reported at other polling locations as well.

[liberal N proud]

1. Link?

Feed the cube rats here please

[partylessinOhio]

4. Sorry, here is the link:

http://www.newsnet5.com/politics/9144311/detail.html#

[liberal N proud]

10. Thanks

[durtee librul]

2. and so it begins....again.....

This is just plain NUTS! Here we are in AMERICA and we can't even get our votes correct?????? WTF?????????

[zann725]

6. Use to be only Death and Taxes were certain. Add to that "EF in Ohio,.

n/t

[partylessinOhio]

3. More problems are reported on the blog:

http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/5/2/73658/30460

[gratuitous]

5. No Plan B?

They don't have a supply of paper ballots on hand? This is (a) madness, (b) incompetence, or (c) just what the supervisor of elections wanted.

I wonder if anyone besides the Toledo Blade and some "angry" Democrats will give a rip?

[partylessinOhio]

9. Update:

Voters Given Ballots To Fill Out By Hand When Machines Fail

UPDATED: 11:15 am EDT May 2, 2006

SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio -- ...

Because of some confusion at the polling locations, citizens are being given ballots to fill out by hand, said Micheal Vu, director of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. ...

Vu said there was trouble setting up the new machines at some polling locations.

Polling sites in all 88 Ohio counties were using either touch-screen electronic machines or ones that electronically scan ballots that voters have marked, eliminating punch-card ballots. Half the counties had their first election with the new machines in November. The rest got up and running in Tuesday's primary election.

Elsewhere in Ohio, election officials and voters reported what was expected: mostly minor problems with workers finding their way with the newer machines, or no problems at all.

The switch from punch cards to more sophisticated technology was mandated by the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002, prompted by the punch-card-driven mess in Florida following the 2000 presidential election. ...

http://www.newsnet5.com/politics/9144311/detail.html

Here is a post from http://forums.ibsys.com/viewmessages.cfm?sitekey=nn5&Forum=195&Topic=13762

stating problems in two suburbs of Cleveland, Parma and Parma Heights:

chelswamp 05-02-2006, 7:48 AM Add to the Discussion I arrived at the polls in Parma Heights eager to vote at 7:00 this morning and was told that the machines weren't working, yet. Don't the polls open at 6:30? Shouldn't they have tried the machines out prior to this morning?!? My sister lives in Parma & was also unable to vote this morning. This is ridiculous! Luckily, I have the time to go back this evening to vote, but there will be many who won't bother--who either don't have the time or desire to go back to the polls. I called the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections & they said the problems were pretty widespread this morning. This is unacceptable! Thanks, Chelsea

[jimshoes]

7. This is fucking unacceptable

In the 21 century, to have polling places that are unable to accomodate the voters is beyond the pale. What bullshit!

[Doctor_J]

8. Add OH to the list of states that are banana republics

along with FL. How much you wanna bet Whitewell wins in a landslide in November?

[Mz Pip]

11. Amazing

You never hear about gambling machines breaking down. That would cost the industry billions. If Vegas and casino machines can run without constant malfunctions, one would think the same can be done for voting machines.

How hard can it be?

Mz Pip
:dem:

[partylessinOhio]

12. Notes I took from noon news:

Noon news on Newsnet 5:

Problems at the polls. Voters standing in lines all over Cuyahoga County.

Complaints are pouring into the newsroom. Thousands of problems. Voters are not happy today. Election workers overwhelmed.

Election Board says, there are many problems with these machines. Took three hours for workers to get machines to work. Poll workers said it was just embarrassing.


Workers to set up machines did not show up. Extension cords and other equipment were missing.

Number of technicians did not show up. Hopefully, they will send help later throughout the day.

One man went nuts and smashed a voting machine- machine shown flat on the floor.

Candidate names missing from the ballots.

One polling place only has one machine working, and it only is working only some of the time - reported by a poll worker.

Man asking to keep polls open later. That can only be done by a court order!!!!!!!!!

[Stinky The Clown]

13. The ONLY silver lining in this dark cloud is that Blackwell will get

sullied badly in the blowback.

[Tom Rinaldo]

14. Anecdote from Columbus Ohio

I was there on business last week, and while there I had business to do in a Convention Center Rest Room. Standing at the urinal I saw in front of me a sticker on the wall. It had an arrow pointing straight down, with words saying: Blackwell Voting Device.

[Doctor_J]

15. What blowback?

republican voters LOVE when their heroes get away with crimes. If you think Whitewell will suffer ANY at the polls just because he took the vote away from 1000's of blacks, you need to put down the crack pipe.

[wiley]

16. Doesn't the Republican Party

give out annual awards (and probably rewards) for manipulating or supressing the vote?


You get it! Yet the majority of Democrats and most everyone else don't realize that these people will slash tires, have a special $50 giveaway at some store 300 miles away from polling booths, arrest or harass those trying to get to the polls, and outright lie to people about their candidate.

[wiley]

17. By Whom?