Some Voters Turned Away From Polls [San Diego]

Poll workers at many polling places were stumped when they turned on electronic card readers...<

Behold!! The democRATic voter/volunteer.

The headline is a bit histrionic once you read the article.

Must be a right wing conspiracy!!!!

I think I recall that Canada still uses paper ballots.

Here's the report from Roger Hedgecock's team at AM 600 KOGO - San Diego:

HELP AMERICA VOTE??

(can you spell disenfranchisement boys and girls?)

THIS FLASH IS GONNA TELL IT’S OWN STORY…ROGER got a ton of first person email this morning detailing troubles with Black Box Vote. Many of the writers left the polling place without being able to vote. Many will not take the time (nor have the time in many cases) to return a second time and attempt to vote. Based on the sampling of e-mail we have to assume that thousands were either deprived of their right to vote this morning or may have cast ballots that they had not intended.

THIS IS NOT A SURPRISE…for months in this space we have posted nearly a hundred or more articles and scores of websites and several studies and plenty of testimony from experts that Black Box voting would deprive us of our sacred right to cast the ballot. Mainmedia even got somewhat involved (San Jose Mercury News foremost amongst the newspapers) as we drew closer to today. We knew this was going to happen. The California Secretary of State knew this was going to happen. We are even voting on machines in many CA counties that have not been certified for security much less whether they will actually record a vote.

AND FOR AS MANY MONTHS we’ve argued that punch card voting works. The entire federal project called Help America Vote is ridiculous, unnecessary and extremely expensive. But worse we have been robbed of our right to determine the course of our nation.

THIS ELECTION MUST NOT STAND!! We must vote again and with a sheaf of paper that I can hold in my hand and make my mark upon.

BELOW WE POST FAR TOO MANY (but a mere sampling) of the first person vote stories in ROGER’S email this morning. A sampling is what the statisticians like to call a reflection of the whole. Based solely upon the emails below this election must not stand.

ROGER INVITES YOU TO CALL THE RADIO PROGRAMME TODAY AND TELL YOUR VOTE STORY.

SORRY ABOUT THE LENGTH OF THIS FLASH BUT WE THINK YOU’LL FIND EACH TESTIMONY BELOW TO BE COMPELLING AND SCARY AS HELL!! (where’s the 7 second delay?)

THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY VOTE…MARCH 2ND, 2004

I tried to vote this morning in Downtown San Diego, and couldn't since the machines didn't work. I waited for 40 minutes, but the staff couldn't even get through to anyone because the phone lines were all tied up with other problems. I have a job, and attend school tonight, so it looks like I will not be able to vote. What a joke, they don't even have a backup plan for these types of problems.

Why do we spend so much time and effort in our society to cater to stupid people who can't figure out how to vote? It's a dog eat dog world and the strong should survive IMHO. This has just reached the point of absurdity.

*****

Just thought I would tell you about my voting experience today. I arrived at my assigned polling place at 7:30 this morning. I was greeted by several smiling poll workers who informed me that the computers for the touch screen voting were not working. They could not tell me when they would be fixed, because they did not know when a technician would be arriving to fix the problem.

They did tell me that I could vote in Kearny Mesa or any other polling place. They mentioned that Lakeview Elementary was also a polling place but they could not tell me if the computers were working there. I got in my car and called the Registrar to find the next nearest WORKING polling place, but the lines were busy. My only opportunity for voting is in the morning, due to my schedule I would not be able to vote late or drive to Kearny Mesa to vote.

The computers at the elementary school were working and as I was standing in line a worker from yet another polling place came by to find out if they could send their voters on over. I was handed a provisional application and read down the 6 reasons for voting at a poll that was different from the one that I was assigned. There were no check boxes for "Computer screw-up at assigned poll." The closest was something like "I choose not to vote at my assigned location".

I checked this box since I had to check something. This is the first time I have ever had to LIE in order to vote!

When I filled out the application I asked the poll worker if it was filled out correctly and they replied: "It looks good enough, if it isn't then it's our fault". They were in the process of doing about 10 of these provisional applications at once and looked completely overwhelmed.

I did get to vote, but I wonder how may people were left out today. There are thousands of people that cannot just get in a car and go somewhere else to vote, I can only hope they are all democrats.

*****

I arrived at my polling place in Lakeside at 6:45AM. I was first in line. I left at 7:15 when there was 8 people in line. The card encoding computer still was not operating. The man behind me in line was a fireman on his way to work. He said if he couldn't vote now he would not be able to vote. The poll workers were trying to call the help line but it was always busy.

comments: As of last Wednesday our family had not received our absentee ballots, I called the Registrar of Voters and was told our ballots were mailed out that Monday. We did not receive them until late Friday afternoon. Being that that don't accept Post Marks we had to drive down Saturday and deliver them to the Registrar of Voters. My question is how many people received theirs late, mailed them and they won't be counted? It is something to check on.

*****

comments: As of last Wednesday our family had not received our absentee ballots, I called the Registrar of Voters and was told our ballots were mailed out that Monday. We did not receive them until late Friday afternoon. Being that that don't accept Post Marks we had to drive down Saturday and deliver them to the Registrar of Voters. My question is how many people received theirs late, mailed them and they won't be counted? It is something to check on.

*****

They couldn't get the computer to start this morning and when they called for support, they received nothing but busy signals. I, along with dozens more, walked away without voting. How is this better than the punch cards? I can't remember ever being turned away due to a malfunction of that equipment!

*****

comments: Went to vote this morning in Carlsbad - voting systems are down! They had me sign in, then I waited for 15 minutes... and finally had to walk away (~7:20am) to go to work. I heard on 760AM that this was happening all over the county! I am loosing my chance to vote because of this mess. Please make this a major issue - no excuse cuts it in my book...
Brad

*****

Hi Roger, Well, guess what. I went to vote this morning and at my polling place in Poway, the computers were down!!!!!! Can't vote!!!!!!!!!!! I want my punch card back!!!!!!!!!!! I know enough to make sure there are no hanging chads.

They told me to come back later, but gee, I have a job to go to, kids to take to orthodontist and girl scouts this afternoon, and a family to feed tonight. When am I going to find time to go back?

I am quite upset as I purposely got up early this morning to go vote before work. Now I feel like my rights are being infringed on because I may not get to vote today.

(But I will. Somewhere in my busy schedule I will find the time to get over to the polls this afternoon.)

*****

I don't know what your position was on these new voting machines, but I was against them for a variety of reasons not the least of which was the cost and of course the concern that they may not work or can be tampered with.

I went to my polling place this morning and you and I could have guessed it, the machines aren't working, and the folks are having problems finding someone who can fix them.

I wonder how many people will be turned away this morning who will not have the time to get to the polls later today.

I wonder how many polling places are having similar problems.

I can remember a time recently when the power was out, but we could still vote because we didn't need electricity to use the punch cards.

As I thought, and many others predicted, this is a mess before it gets started.

*****

Well Roger, it looks as though for the first time in 26 years I will not be able to vote in an election. I went to my polling place here in Lakeside. After waiting in line for 30 minutes or so I was told the computer was down and they had no idea when it would be back up. Around 25 people or so in line all turned and left for one reason for another. Most looked as though they had to head for work. I was in the same predicament. I called the Registrar Of Voters and they told me they were working on the problem and had no idea when the computer would be up. The only solution they gave was to go to the Registrar of Voters office in Kearny Mesa and vote there. I work a 12 hour shift and was given a window of opportunity by my employer to vote. That window closed fast once I waited and found out I was out of luck at the poling place I go to. So it looks as though it was not a hanging chad that caused me grief but a hang up in a system that should have been tried before the 7:00 hour to see if it indeed worked. I am not sure how many of the 25 or so others will be able to make it back. Not to mention the many who have arrived since only to be turned away. Thanks for listening. I enjoy the show.

*****

voted this a.m. (in Escondido on El Camino Dr.- near the country club) and the following occurred, which may or may not be a problem.

After completed all my votes, the Voting Summary appeared and as I reviewed my votes, I noted that the summary did not include my vote for George Bush (which would not be problem since he was the only choice), and my NO vote on Proposition 56 did not appear on the summary. I went back to the previous screens and confirmed that I had voted on 56. I called one of the precinct workers and went over the problem with her. She made a note of my name and my vote, as well as another NO vote by one of my neighbors. She did not, however, call the Registrar, which I did when I got home. They didn't know what caused the problem or how to correct it. I told them that my concern was that the vote was not recorded.

This is probable nothing - but wouldn't it be a disaster if all the YES votes were properly recorded and all or part of the NO votes were not??!!

*****

Hi Roger,
I just go through voting and the problem that I had that I wanted to let you know about is that when I hit the "no"key on the screen, the "yes" key got the "X". Also, when I selected a candidate, the candidate above the one I selected got the "X". This happened more than once. I had to fight with the stupid machine to get it to put my "X" where I wanted it.

I did eventually vote and correctly, but I had to fight with the machines so often, it was a real problem. I notfied the workers at my polling station that this was happening and they said they would mark the machine as not working properly. I don't know if they did because I had to leave.

The old system worked just fine. This new system will cause many problems. So much for progress.

*****

Good Morning Guys,

I've had a very interesting time trying to vote this AM.

Below is my story:

Went to vote at 7:03 AM and was 9th in line. The first 2 in line voted and then the "computer" locked up

The poll workers were panicked and didn't know what to do - they couldn't get thru to anyone on the # they had 6 people ahead of me gave up

I was upset with the lack of action and went back to my car, using my cell phone called the registrar of voters office listed on the front of my voter pamphlet, got thru to a live body, gave him my precinct # and walked back to the polling place, handed my phone over to the precinct captain who inadvertently hit a key on the phone disconnecting the call. The captain tried to call the number he had on his instructions and got a busy signal.

I stepped outside and redialed the registrar of voters, got thru again and handed the phone off once more. They were able to walk the captain thru the computer reset and eventually got the precinct back up and running. All this took about 20 minutes from start to finish.

I voted and left for work with very little assurances that my vote would be saved and counted.

Several things I noticed, however should be mentioned:

The computer was running "Microsoft CE" - not a very robust/secure system in my humble opinion

The precinct had no written step by step instructions on what to do if the computer locked up or had a power failure

The computer was plugged into a power strip under the sign-in table where anyone could tap the "on-off" switch inadvertently (or on purpose?) with their foot

There was no UPS (uninterruptible power supply - battery) connected to the computer - strange on a rainy day when we could have power outages

I hope my experience was an isolated one, however listening to the LA news on the way into Orange County (where I work) I wonder? - time for some more "Pink Liquid" instead of my usual morning coffee!

Best Regards
A concerned voter ? In Carlsbad

*****

Talk about disenfranchising a voter:

I went to my local polling place (Wesleyan Church of Lakeside, 9455 Los Coches Rd.) at 7am this morning.

The computers "would not work" and I was told I could either wait (they were trying to reach the "help line" or go to another poll and vote "provisionally"..... But, they had no provision for me to cast a paper ballot.

Now, I was already late for work and un-able to vote. Fortunately, I will be able to vote later... but only by skipping a previous commitment.

The bigger problem was a firefighter standing in front of me in line. He was late for his 24hour shift and now was not going to be able to vote at all!!!

Why is there no provision for: faulty computers, lack of power, etc......

Seems like VERY bad planning... based on the fact that some people are not held accountable for

Casting a "proper" ballot.

YIKES!!!!

Heh! MORE than a little histrionic! LOL!

I'm listening to KOGO and one polling place said they opened up 30 minutes late. There was some concern about people being able to get back before the polls close, but it didn't seen to be widespread.

BUT...OUR VOTES MUST COUNT!!!

I voted this morning in NYC.

If the average poll worker's IQ was over 90, I'd be shocked.

No it's not. It's the headline AS WRITTEN by the San Diego Union Tribune.

I posted the Union-Tribune article, but the source is also KOGO AM 600 and KFMB 760 AM - which have further accounts as to the seriousness of the problem.

Read my post with the testimonials sent in to one news station in San Diego.

An unknown number of voters were turned away . . . but . . . "The problem . . . will not affect vote totals", Registar Sally McPherson told reporters.

Cute trick.

I'll say it again: We need to go back to the old pencil and paper. You get a slip of paper, right the name of the dude/chick you want to vote for, and put it in the box. If you can't spell, write, or at least clearly indicate in some manner who you're voting for....tough. At the very least, offer the choice of a slip with the names pre-printed and require only some kind of big X next to the name.

I'll post the same to you :) [it's the same argument so please don't mind the lazy reply]

No it's not. It's the headline AS WRITTEN by the San Diego Union Tribune.

I posted the Union-Tribune article, but the source is also KOGO AM 600 and KFMB 760 AM - which have further accounts as to the seriousness of the problem.

Read my post with the testimonials sent in to one news station in San Diego.

I have no problem with computers used for voting, as long as they generate a paper trail.

What I think would be ideal, would be a touch screen that then translates your votes into a bar-code. The barcode is printed, you then scan the bar-code to verify your vote with a fingerprint.

Ballots are then collected and scanned by reading the fresh barcodes, validation of a ballot is done by examining signatures and fingerprints.

Voter fraud would be traceable, as the fingerpint on the illegal ballots would be proof of not only the ballot being false (ie. dead people voting), but also provides evidence to convict the person(s) involved in voter fraud.

Gahooogah.

As a resident of DUVAL county in FL, you can only imagine the GRIN I have right now!

NO one said that YOU were the one who wrote it like that. I saw it on the original.

Sorry to imply it was you.

I'm not claiming the headline was not as written... I said it was histrionic.

SECRET BALLOT means no signature or fingerprint.