WaPo: High Turnout, New Procedures May Mean an Election Day Mess

[IDemo]

By Mary Pat Flaherty
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 18, 2008; Page A01

Faced with a surge in voter registrations leading up to Nov. 4, election officials across the country are bracing for long lines, equipment failures and confusion over polling procedures that could cost thousands the chance to cast a ballot.

The crush of voters will strain a system already in the midst of transformation, with jurisdictions introducing new machines and rules to avoid the catastrophe of the deadlocked 2000 election and the lingering controversy over the 2004 outcome. Even within the past few months, cities and counties have revamped their processes: Nine million voters, including many in the battleground states of Ohio, Florida and Colorado, will use equipment that has changed since March.

But the widespread changes meant to reassure the public have also increased the potential for trouble.

"You change systems and throw in lots of new voters, and you can plan to be up the proverbial creek," said Kimball Brace, president of Election Data Services, a consulting firm that has tracked the voting changes.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/17/AR2008091703663.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR

[glowing]

1. Seriously, this isn't rocket science.. Provide enough ballots, let people

color the circle in, and put it through the machine.. Its easier than the touch screen machines in FL.. However, the crooks running the show are really good at making an easy system into a mess for their benefit.

[MarjorieG]

3. Of course, emergency ballots haven't passed Congress, for years now.

[SteveM]

2. Vote early, folks, then brag about it (nt)

[babylonsister]

4. Are we being set up early? Why aren't these issues addressed

IMMEDIATELY after the last election? :grr: Not the turnout, but new procedures could have been ironed out before this election.