Voting obstacles in VA, PA

Posted: Tuesday, November 04, 2008 1:58 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From Election Protection...
Voters are reporting major obstacles to casting their ballot in polling locations across Virginia and Pennsylvania, which could disenfranchise thousands of voters in each state.

Long lines, broken voting machines, ballot shortages and misused absentee ballots are just some of the problems that threaten voting.

VIRGINIA: Dozens of polling places are experiencing varying degrees of machine malfunctions. Some polling places are either completely closed or have been closed for hours. Thousands of voters may have been turned away illegally by polling workers. Voters have illegally been issued with provisional ballets where machines have been broken.

Students at Virginia Tech, previously the victims of misinformation, have seen their polling place suddenly and unexpectedly moved six miles to a location with little parking.

*** UPDATE *** Per NBC's Wendy Jones, producer on site: The Virginia Election authority says: Virginia Tech students are not being turned away. Because of traffic congestion, they are being directed to satellite parking.

PENNSYLVANIA: Voting machine malfunctions are widespread and at least a dozen locations, mainly focused on Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Election Protection has received reports of campaign materials being illegally distributed at polling locations in Pittsburgh. Voters across the state are reporting that they never received their absentee ballots, which is creating additional chaos at the polls.

Several other states like Florida, Ohio, Colorado and Michigan are reporting long lines due to problems with registration lists and poll locations.

Election Protection legal volunteers are working to resolve these issues quickly to ensure that no one leaves their polling location without effectively casting a ballot. Voting rights experts urge voters to stay patient and cooperative in the meantime and to report all instances of voter intimidation or disenfranchisement to Election Protection’s 866-OUR-VOTE hotline immediately.

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Comments

Ugh. Here we go....

I hope that it's not going to be a really long night. BUT, I hope even more that the people's voices are heard.

http://thepajamapundit.com/

the Pajama Pundit (Sent Tuesday, November 04, 2008 2:09 PM)

Obstacles? You mean like the drunk guys that ACORN dragged in to vote 10-15 times are finally falling over from all the free liquor that was given to them?

Truman C., Queens NY (Sent Tuesday, November 04, 2008 2:11 PM)

Hedging our bets, are we?
Gotta' have those excuses ready, just in case McCain wins.

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY (Sent Tuesday, November 04, 2008 2:11 PM)

For the Democrats having so much trouble voting, why don't we just have them stand there, and when we shout a name, just have them give us a show of hands.

You Must Be Sober To Vote (Sent Tuesday, November 04, 2008 2:12 PM)

I have seen few national mentions of what is SO obvious to Oregonians. Why not a national "vote by mail." We only have vote by mail in our state. If you don't want to fork out the .42 for the stamp, (or worry about mail fraud), there are a number of secured drop-off boxes near city halls, etc.

You have roughly three weeks to work on your ballot, there are no lines, and you can even sip a glass of wine as you make it through your ballot.

BTW, voter turn-out has dramatically increased in our state.

Oregon votes by mail (Sent Tuesday, November 04, 2008 2:13 PM)

Unbelievable. How can you run short of ballots?

Every precinct knows the number of registered voters in that precinct, so why would anyone plan for less than a 100 percent?

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, November 04, 2008 2:13 PM)

Can we please get some law enforcement on this? Where is the sherriff? The mayor? The FBI? Somebody please! Do not let them do this, this, THIS is the type of politics we want ended!
So don't be an average politician... Do not look away... Some one had the power to do something.... DO IT!

oldugly atlanta, ga (Sent Tuesday, November 04, 2008 2:13 PM)

Karma comes a knocking on Obama's door..... remember me I'm here about your involvement with acorn !

Karma (Sent Tuesday, November 04, 2008 2:13 PM)

Here's an idea. From now on, election officials, poll workers, etc. are not allowed to vote until everyone at their precinct who wants to vote has voted. If there are problems with voting at their precinct, then they get to use 'provisional' ballots. Maybe the threat that they would be the ones disenfranchised for a change would be enough incentive to stop these never-ending screwups.

Anthony Barnaby, Milford, Mich. (Sent Tuesday, November 04, 2008 2:15 PM)

"Hedging our bets, are we?
Gotta' have those excuses ready, just in case McCain wins."
J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY (Sent Tuesday, November 04, 2008 2:11 PM)

Actually it seems something like this will hurt McCain more than Obama as it seems many more Obama supporters did early voting.

I hope it doesn't hurt McCain, but I agree with other posters that some state polling places need to get their act together!

Liberty or Death, Maricopa Arizona (Sent Tuesday, November 04, 2008 3:57 PM)

I am not surprised about the snafus. I used to do census work and when you are trying to collect any data on a large scale, there are going to be problems. In most cases, I seriously doubt there are ulterior motives on the part of election workers, campaigns, etc. - it is just a big undertaking. People need to realize this fact, calm down, and wait for the returns.

Sensible American (Sent Tuesday, November 04, 2008 3:57 PM)

Why oh why, in this day and with our technology, can't we get a frigging voting machine that works? We sent a man to the moon how many years ago?

Lee Wright, Truckee, CA (Sent Tuesday, November 04, 2008 3:57 PM)

The voting process here in Virginia was both long and error free. The stories of problems where none exist goes along with the false leads we have been reading about forever. Neither one were present at my voting district.People love drama but should not make things up for attention to themselves.The people of Virginia are not as gullable as the media might think.

Ralph Morse Carrollton, Virginia (Sent Tuesday, November 04, 2008 3:57 PM)

It seems the Republicans here are being very defensive. Nothing in the article mentioned either party. MMMmm, I wonder why that is?

notapundit, Albany, NY (Sent Tuesday, November 04, 2008 3:58 PM)

We are a first world power house and we can't get the voting process down! This is down right insane. But it is intresting that the states having trouble are mostly toss up states. I'm not buying into any stupid conspiracy theory (yet) but it is worth noting.
Obama/Biden '08 -Turn Oklahoma Blue!

Josh, Tulsa, OK (Sent Tuesday, November 04, 2008 3:58 PM)

This is just what I expected to happen. They're going to steal this election just like they did with Gore. I think that's why Obama's grandmother passed the day before the election because she didn't want to see his dream stolen away.

Kevin Bonner, Columbus, Ohio (Sent Tuesday, November 04, 2008 3:58 PM)

I've voted absentee for over 15 years. I agree it should be done nationally. I pray McShame doesn't win.

Julia Landry, Richmond, CA (Sent Tuesday, November 04, 2008 3:58 PM)

RE: Knowing how many voters there are : They don't know how many voters are going to show up. In Mississippi there are 26 counties with more registered voters than there are registered population!

Richard (Sent Tuesday, November 04, 2008 3:58 PM)

Is this democracy? Republican dirty tricks cannot prevent the people's voice being heard. No more whining about Acorn; this is the real voter fraud on election day right in front of your nose.

Murray Gilkeson Los Angeles, CA (Sent Tuesday, November 04, 2008 3:58 PM)

New Rules: (Like Bill Maher)

Before any national election, EVERY polling place
should be required-by Federal law, I don't CARE what the states say-to have at least 50 trees' worth of
PAPER BALLOTS!! And all workers should be instructed to HAND THEM OUT without the world blowing up first.

Deborah Greenlawn, NY (Sent Tuesday, November 04, 2008 7:25 PM)

I voted across the street from the Virginia Tech campus. I experienced moderate lines while on campus students had to deal with a fiasco 6 miles away. While my precinct couldn't handle all of campus, part of it such as Upper and Presidential Quads could have easily been accommodated there. The fact that better accommodations weren't made for students at best shows lack of panning, but far too likely reveals conscious neglect.

Robert Krickus, Blacksburg, VA (Sent Tuesday, November 04, 2008 9:29 PM)

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