Election Problems in Indiana - Please keep your eyes out

[IndyOp]

and make calls - to Dem Party, to candidates, to media to make noise - WE WILL NOT BE SILENT...

IndyStar - regular updates...

Election Day Report: Difficulties no surprise to computer expert
1:15 p.m. - Voting extended in Delaware County
11:45 a.m. - Dems chairman very critical
11:41 AM -- Stay clear of polls
10:58 AM -- How many will vote?
10:48 AM -- Republicans, Democrats agree on Voter ID
10:15 AM -- Democrat acknowledges no ID problems
9:13 AM -- Technicians making repairs
Only about 90 “problem polls” remained on the Marion County repair list by 9 a.m. this morning.

VoterUnite.org Indiana page
Articles to problems in Delaware County, Marion, Monroe, Union...

Federal Law May Prohibit Delaware County Polls from Remaining Open
http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5643756&nav=menu35_1

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.

This morning a problem occurred in Delaware County when an apparent computer error prevented voters from casting ballots in 75 precincts. Delaware County Clerk Karen Wenger says start cards that activate the machines for voters were programmed incorrectly by the company that installed the software, MicroVote. Wegner says technicians worked with precincts one-by-one over the telephone to get the problem fixed.

As a result, Wenger petitioned the court for an extension in polling hours. A judge granted the petition allowing polls to remain open until 8:40 p.m. so the machines will be operating a total of 12 hours straight.

People who came to the polls and could not vote due to the problem were given provisional ballots, or the opportunity for provisional ballots. If they did not choose to use that method they can come back.

The judge told 24-Hour News 8 he wasn't sure he could extend poll hours, but he said people have the right to vote and he's going to stand by that, but federal law may not allow him to.

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report

[IndyOp]

1. Dem Party Calls for standard ballots during extended hours in Delaware Co

Keeping in mind that provisional ballots = toilet paper, I cannot believe what I just learned.

HAVA (Sec 302(c)) says that if there is a court-ordered extention to voting hours, and someone votes after the normal time which polls would close, then they must vote using a provisional ballot. In other words, the machines must be turned off at the regular closing time. http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/hava/HAVA_2002.html

The start cards were programmed wrong in Delaware County Indiana and the voters will suffer... :grr:


Democrats Want Regular Ballots During Extended Hours

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.

So Indiana Democratic Party Chair Dan Parker will ask that voters in Delaware County be allowed to cast regular ballots during the extended hours from 6:00 p.m. to 8:40 p.m.

The Republican attorney for the Indiana Election Division has argued that voters in Delaware County must use provisional ballots after the polls close. Democrats says provisional ballots are not initially factored into vote totals and often do not count. Democrats are arguing that Indiana law does not explicitly prohibit using regular ballots after an extension of the poll hours.

This morning a problem occurred in Delaware County when an apparent computer error prevented voters from casting ballots in 75 precincts. Delaware County Clerk Karen Wenger says start cards that activate the machines for voters were programmed incorrectly by the company that installed the software, MicroVote. Wegner says technicians worked with precincts one-by-one over the telephone to get the problem fixed.

more: http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5643756&nav=menu35_1

[PVnRT]

2. Daviess County this morning

I apologize for their being no link for this - I just jotted the gist of the story from the local evening news.

When polls opened in the county, workers found that the machines were not working. Apparently, the company that made the machines failed to program the keycards that they need to operate. Paper ballots were distributed at some spots, with lines taking upwards of 40 minutes to finally get through once things were working.

"I'm sure we lost a few voters," is what one worker said in an interview.

Early on, in Vigo County, at one polling location, the heads of the optical scanners got switched, so the first few voters had trouble getting their votes to count. The problem was fixed quickly.

[IndyOp]

3. Thanks! (n/t)

[thinkingwoman]

4. Monroe County having problems

Apparently they did not have enough repuke observers and counting was delayed...official results were promised for 9:00 but still no update as of 9:21.

Further, seems the FBI is involved in allegations about 20 absentee ballots.

Edited to add links: (unfortunately a subscription is required)

Vote report process changed
No poll data to be released until 9 p.m.: http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/stories/2006/11/07/news.new.1162943836.sto


FBI asked to look into Monroe ballot issue; 20 absentee ballots in question: http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/stories/2006/11/07/news.new.1162950124.sto