At the Voting Booth? What are you seeing today?

[SpeedwayDemocrat]

Consider this a thread to post what's happening in Indiana at the polls today.

As for me, Wayne 28 (in Speedway) was very busy. I had to wait to vote and wait to be scanned. That's never happened before.
Hope that's a good sign!

[SpeedwayDemocrat]

1. Marion County already has reported problems

According to the Indianapolis Star:

7:13 AM -- Voting machines not started in half of county's precincts

Marion County officials are facing widespread problems bringing new electronic voting machines online this morning.

County Clerk Doris Ann Sadler said the problems involve about half of the county’s 914 precincts.

The problem, she said, is that poll workers have forgotten how to start and run the machines.

Paper ballots are being used where machines are not working, the clerk said. She said 50 technicians are going from precinct to precinct to get the machines working. That process, she said, will take several hours to complete.

Sadler said she expected some problems and does not see serious issues at this point because people can still vote.

6:35 AM -- Polling place problems in Marion County

Problems were reported at many polling places this morning, county clerk Doris Ann Sadler reports.

“We’re having lots and lots of problems,” the clerk said.

The problems are primarily with new touch screen machines being used for the first time. Where those problems occurred, paper ballots are being substituted, the clerk said.

Sadler also said that some inspectors are not showing up as scheduled, forcing her to find last-minute substitutes

<http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061107/LOCAL19/61107003>

[PsychoDad]

2. Greene County, Washington Township

Yep Greenetucky county, district 8 :p

When I was there things were slow. The rain will probably work to dem advantage as most repugs I know are pretty unmotivated.

Peace.

[salin]

18. I was in one of those precincts.

Around 7:15 this morning. They just stacked the ballots up on a table - no security, no privacy.

Ironically, just after voting I was driving to work and listening to WFYI when Tod Rokita came on the air and proudly asserted that for the first time "all poll workers have gone through a 'certified' training" (this was supposed to inspire confidence I suppose - of course what 'certified training' means is another question.) So now if we start blaming the poll-workers... will anyone ask the Sec of State about that full confidence he had due to the "certified training" of "all" poll workers in Indiana? Somehow doubt it.

[hippiechick]

3. Precinct 64 (Washington Twp, Marion Co)

I was there at approx. 7:35 am - was the 24th voter in my precinct ... machines were working fine, a shitload of poll workers standing around, all seemed 'business as usual', I was in and out inside of 5-8 minutes.

[JTFrog]

4. Washington Twnshp (precinct 59)

here too... everything went smooth even if the lady trying to hand me the republican schedule acted downright shocked when I told her to get that thing out of my face.

Driving through downtown this morning, however, there were lines going down the block and folks standing out in the rain. This was of course in a predominantly lower income area. I hope they all get to vote!

[hippiechick]

7. Hi JT - Welcome to DU Indiana!

Glad you found our little corner! :hi:

Sounds like we were in the same building this morning!! :)

[PVnRT]

5. Otter Creek A, Vigo County

Got there at about 6:15, was the 21st voter (already!) in that precinct. Actually had to wait in line ot sign in. I even wrote in Birch Bayh for Senate. No problems that I saw.

[izzybeans]

6. Franklin, IN

Very few people voting, very republican precinct.

[ivycat]

8. Warrick County

When I pulled up to the polling station, I was delighted to see quite a few cars in the parking lot, but when I got inside, I'm sure they were from all the poll workers.

But, on my way there I saw an Ellsworth for Congress sign in some one's yard to encourage me even more. :thumbsup:

[IndyOp]

9. Welcome to DU Ivycat!!

:hi:

[IndyOp]

10. Microvote Infinity Smartcards programmed wrong - 75 Delaware precincts

Early voting problems in at least 2 Indiana counties

Indiana's voter ID law received its first test in a general election, but that was not what was causing the problems, clerks in two counties said.

In Delaware County, an apparent computer error prevented voters from casting ballots in 75 precincts and election officials planned to seek a court order to extend the voting beyond the scheduled 6 p.m. close. Delaware County Clerk Karen Wenger said blue start cards that activate the push-button machines for voters were programmed incorrectly by MicroVote General Corp., the company that installs software in 47 Indiana counties.

"We are working with precincts one-by-one over the telephone to get the problem fixed, and we're also going to get a court order to have our polling hours extended at least until seven o'clock," Wenger said.

She said she did not know what caused the problem that affected 225 machines in the east-central Indiana county.

"We haven't done anything wrong here. The poll workers haven't done anything wrong," she said.

[hippiechick]

13. Polls there will now be open until at least 8 pm

According to wishtv, noon broadcast.

[hippiechick]

15. Update: GODDAMMIT!

from wishtv.com


"A judicial order is allowing polls in Delaware County to stay open until 8:40 p.m. tonight. However, according to the Delaware County clerk, while a Delaware County judge says the county can keep polls open until 8:40 p.m., federal law may not allow the voting machines to operate beyond 6:00 p.m."

[thinkingwoman]

11. Monroe County Van Buren Twp 3

Not very busy mid morning. This is western Monroe county--from western edge of city limits. We're not part of the heated Hill-Sodrel race. And it was raining.

I checked in immediately and waited less than 3 minutes to vote. Hubby votes at same place this evening and I'll update if it's busier then.

[thinkingwoman]

16. Late in the day update

Hubby voted around 4 pm. No line so I had a chance to talk to poll worker. She said turnout had been steady all day despite the rain and that we were lucky to be voting during slower times. They had line this morning in first couple of hours and were expecting to have another in the last hour to hour 1/2.

[Jokerman]

12. In the booth I saw...

A whole bunch of darkened little ovals next to democratic candidate names and a bunch of un-darkened little ovals next to republican candidate names. Oh, and one write-in for U.S. Senate which kept me from voting a straight ticket.

The write-in baffled the poll workers (one of the reasons I did it!) but the scanner seemed to accept the ballot anyway.

A lot of traffic in & out of the polling place and although there was no line when I got there, a short one had started by the time I left.

(11:45 - Wayne 28)

[Ariana Celeste]

14. Plainfield, IN

Guilford township- When I walked in there were only poll workers, when I walked out a couple of people were coming in.... when my SO got there, there was nobody in line and only 2 people voting.... they told me it's been a pretty slow day. Pretty red area.
And it's rainy, too! My hair was all soaked by the time I got home. :)

[dapper]

17. St. Joe's Checking in

I voted around 4pm and my polling place told me they had about 500 people during the day, only a handful of people but the poll worker did say the morning and lunch time was very busy.

I did see someone handing out campaign items about 50' feet from the door but did not inquire about it as I parked 10' from the door.

Someone did tell me in Michigan City that when they were entering their info in the system, a poll worker was watching him and he seemed to think she was kind of making faces.

As he was leaving he got into a discussion with someone since there were campaign signs in the same area of the line. After getting into it with an election worker, they told him to tell his Congress Person . Not sure who the signs were for but the person telling me this story (I believe) is a right winger, always has a story to tell, so I take it with a grain of salt.

Dapper

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

19. Voted at a nursing home

they had the polls in a apartment a different precinct in the living room (Size 10x10) and bedroom (size 10x8) WTF? it was cramped with about 20 people and 2 booths in each room. This was made worse by there being no room for the eldery in wheelchairs and motorized shooters to get around inside, everyone pretty much had to exist the room for them to get around. Last election they had everything in a much larger room single room, does anyone know who I can contact let have a piece of my mind about this, I mean it felt like I was in an elevator with that many people in such a small room, I can't even imagine how it was for anyone wheelchair bound going through this.

[BraveDave]

20. My wife voted at 28.

I didn't get my address change in in time so I had to vote up north.