Reply #40: IN: Parties spar over voting problems [View All]

[rumpel]

Nov 7, 2006 11:10 AM

Marion County - Everyone admits there were problems at the precincts in Marion County Tuesday morning when the polls opened. However, the parties disagree over the severity of those problems.

There were widespread problems with electronic voting machines in Marion County that were greater than election officials anticipated. Local Democratic officials say 20 precincts in Marion County did not open on time because of problems. Marion County Clerk Doris Ann Sadler says there were only two such precincts.

Additionally, there were problems at hundreds of polling places with voting machines, but again, there is disagreement over the exact number. Sadler said over 200 polling places had such problems, with Democrats putting the number at around 300.

Sadler said the problem was with the new touch screen voting machines, which were not set up properly. Those problems caused issues with the machine that tabulates the paper ballots, which meant that the ballots at some precincts couldn't be counted. Technicians had to be sent out to those precincts to fix the tabulator machine.

The clerk says the important thing is that voters were still able to vote, but their votes will be counted later when the machines are up and running again.

http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=5645614&nav=9Tai