RSSE-voting machines, registration databases have a mixed Tuesday
By Angela Gunn | Published November 5, 2008, 6:07 PM
Though no reports of substantial problems have emerged, the tech behind Tuesday's election didn't necessarily cover itself in glory.
OurVoteLive.org blogged that it had received over 75,000 calls since Tuesday, though causes varied and only a minority of calls received concerned e-voting trouble -- 1,730 since yesterday. The VoterAction hotline reported 16,000 calls, with as many as 3,000 in just one hour, again with a fraction of those reflecting machine problems.
Reports are still trickling in, and as observers know sometimes the real problems aren't immediately obvious, but so far there are no chad-level problems reported anywhere in the US. On the other hand, machines in two states -- Kentucky and Pennsylvania -- had problems so substantial that judges had to get involved. In Pennsylvania's Northumberland County, AccuVote machines from Premier Election Systems (nee Diebold) were impounded after voters reported problems voting a straight-party ticket. A similar AccuVote machine was impounded in Colorado in late October, for the same reason.
Reports from Kentucky indicate that 108 Hart InterCivic eSlate machines were shut down on orders from a Kenton County judge after they exhibited problems recording straight-ticket votes. That particular eSlate malfunction has been widely reported by BetaNews and other organizations. Ballots cast on the dicey machines will be evaluated for "voter intent" and registered, so none will be lost. Votes cast on other machines in use in Kenyon County were unaffected.
VoterAction reported a high volume of calls coming from hotly contested Virginia, and expressed particular concern that problems in Michigan with its ES&S machines might stem in part from a contract with the company that has kept the machines from being repaired or serviced for about three years.
Perhaps the most high-profile mishap of the day involved noted actor and activist Tim Robbins, who ran afoul not of the voting machines in use at his precinct, but of a voter-registration culling that went rather wrong. The actor, turned away from the NYC polling place he's been registered to for years, ended up on an hours-long Board of Elections odyssey that made the news in New York and beyond. Fellow NYC residents commenting on the story in The New York Times provided additional examples of database-related meltdowns around the city.
Yes this election was smooth.
I want to thank those members of the Black Panthers who where kind enough to stand in front of polling places with there billy clubs.
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|There are never problems with the libs win...
Only when someone with an (R) after their name wins, is it stolen.
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|(R)Coleman won our state again, but it was close enough to trigger a recount. Wouldn't you know it, that somehow, a precinct in the Iron Range suddenly finds 100's of ballots they "forgot" to turn in...all for (D)Al Franken?
Of course, no one is asking any questions about that. After all, the Dems have never been known to rig elections.
*cough*Acorn*cough*
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|Maybe Tim Robbins got removed because he's a Communist. He and Sean Penn can go vote in Venezuela.
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|Freedom of speech as long at it is your way ?
you should go in china, you'll feel at home the rulers think like you.
Hope you think like them ...
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|Pot. Kettle. Black.
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|Mr. Robbins not only made it clear that he didn't blame anyone in particular for the snafu, but he knew and followed the correct procedure for untangling the mess. The link in the story has details on how that's done -- useful information, since it could happen to anyone, whatever their political beliefs.
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|Because you've forced pretty much any reply to seem like it's repressing your view.
It's his view that you should shut up.
He's welcome to that view, just as you are to yours.
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|Are you familiar with the science fiction series Babylon 5? When President Clark is deposed, all the sycophants and apologists for his regime immediately start the nitpicking and sniping. That of course lures those of like mind on the other side into the resulting conflagration and weirdness ensues.
The lead character, Sheridan, urges cooperation between both sides in the interests of rebuildiung and repairing the damage caused by the old regime.
Sometimes life imitates art.
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|Excellent series. ;)
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