Guess what - voting machines in VA fail to display Jim Webb's full name

[ps1074]

U.S. Senate candidate James Webb's last name has been cut off on part of the electronic ballot used by voters in Alexandria, Falls Church and Charlottesville because of a computer glitch that also affects other candidates with long names, city officials said yesterday.

Although the problem creates some voter confusion, it will not cause votes to be cast incorrectly, election officials emphasized. The error shows up only on the summary page, where voters are asked to review their selections before hitting the button to cast their votes. Webb's full name appears on the page where voters choose for whom to vote.

Election officials attribute the mistake to an increase in the type size on the ballot. Although the larger type is easier to read, it also unintentionally shortens the longer names on the summary page of the ballot.

Thus, Democratic candidate Webb will appear with his first name and nickname only -- or "James H. 'Jim' " -- on summary pages in Alexandria, Falls Church and Charlottesville, the only jurisdictions in Virginia that use balloting machines manufactured by Hart InterCivic of Austin.

Jean Jensen, secretary of the Virginia State Board of Elections, who said yesterday she only recently became aware of the problem, pledged to have it fixed by the 2007 statewide elections.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/23/AR2006102301178.html

[Lautremont]

1. Well, it's obviously Jim Webb's fault for having such a long name.

When will these foreigners learn?

[ncrainbowgrrl]

4. So, what happens to George "Macaca" Allen?

Is he on as just plain old "Macaca"? :evilgrin:

[ncrainbowgrrl]

2. k& r

:kick:

[BonnieJW]

3. Jean Jensen

is not responsive. I've emailed her several times.

[SharonAnn]

5. But 'George Felix Allen' fits?

[woodsprite]

6. Seems if they'd remove the nickname, it'd fit fine. n/t

[FSogol]

7. K&R. n/t

[bullimiami]

8. designed confusion. shell 'fix' it now that it was pointed out.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

9. So they've known about since 2003

yet they haven't fixed it. AND they let Webb's longer name be used.
Seems like they wanted this to happen.

"Election officials in Alexandria said they have been vexed by the problem since they purchased the voting machines in 2003...."

[johnnyrocket]

10. Yes, "George Felix Allen Macacawitz" seems pretty long.