Posted on 11/08/2016 2:10:38 PM PST by Uncle Miltie
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Reports are coming in from several locations around the state of long lines at the polls, driven by high turnout that has overwhelmed the ballot-counting machines.
"The volume is so high it's causing the backlog," said Tony Pires, the director of administration in Pawtucket. "The turnout is so large that one machine can't keep up with the volume."
Pires added, "It doesn't seem to be a local issue. It seems to be state-wide."
Lines of two hours have been reported at Summit Commons on Hillside Avenue in Providence. Pires also said voting machines were overwhelmed at the Varieur and Fallon elementary schools in Pawtucket. The police were called to Varieur Elementary School because of concerns about frustrated voters.
Voters have also told The Providence Journal of machine problems and lines at a polling place on the Providence College Campus and in Coventry.
Laura Manigan, 37, of Pawtucket was so frustrated she was in tears late Tuesday morning. She waited at St. Cecelia's Church in Pawtucket from 9:30 until 11:53 a.m. before giving up and leaving.
"It's the most disorganized, vote-denying experience I have ever had in a presidential election," she said. "There was only one machine and just to put your vote in the box you waited 45 minutes."
Voters did not know which lines to stand in, she said. She doesn't know whether she will return and try to vote later.
Voters wait to cast their ballots at Summit Commons in Providence. David DelPoio/ The Providence Jorunal Inside the polling place shortly before noon, a long line circled the basement gymnasium. An estimated 200 people were waiting. Earlier, some 400 were said to be waiting in line.
Precinct moderator Steve Kilmartin acknowledged that some voters had been waiting for two hours, that there was confusion over the lines, and some were so frustrated that arguments broke out. He said the polling place had just one ballot-counting machine, not enough to keep up with the heavy volume.
Kelli Fleury, 31, of Pawtucket, said she waited for two hours, with her 4-year-old son. Most of the idle time came after she had filled out her ballot and waited to feed it into the counting machine.
At the Varieur Elementary School on Pleasant Street, Pawtucket, voters reported similar problems. Voters generally had to wait for an hour. Two voters complained that there was just one ballot-counting machine and it kept malfunctioning.
Karen Stern she called it "completely unacceptable" and said the conditions were "a form of voter suppression." "Because this isn't a swing state, I don't think it was deliberate. It was just incompetence," Stern said. State Sen. Donna Nesselbush, D-Pawtucket, also at the polling place, said, "It shouldn't be like this. We want voting to be a smooth and easy process."
Arthur Plitt, the precinct moderator at Varieur, said the ballot-counting machine had broken down twice. In addition to calling the police because frustrated voters jostled the machine, poll workers had to call 911 after a voter had apparent cardiac problems.
Plitt acknowledged his own frustration. "This is a neighborhood gathering place," he said. "We all meet old and new friends here. The right to vote is extremely important."
Just before noon, Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea issued a statement acknowledging the long waits as she traveled the state touring polling places.
"There are reports of long wait times at some locations," Gorbea said. "I am in contact with the State Board of Elections and local boards of canvassers to make sure these issues are addressed.” Related content
As for the places she had visited: “On this beautiful Election Day, it is great to see so many Rhode Islanders exercising their most sacred right to vote. We have been traveling to polling locations throughout the state this morning and have seen things running smoothly." Even some voters who got to the polls early found themselves in long lines.
At the Vartan Gregorian Elementary School in Providence's Fox Point, some 150 voters were standing in line shortly after 8 a.m., with just one voting machine accepting ballots.
At the Nathan Bishop Middle School in Providence's East Side, the wait was about an hour around 9 a.m., according to a tweet from Journal reporter Jennifer Bogdan.
A few vote-counting machines had jammed, which is not uncommon, according to Miguel J. Nunez, planning and program development specialist for the state Board of Elections. When a machine jams, ballots are securely stored until a technician fixes the machine, and then the backlog of ballots is fed through and counted. Technicians are deployed throughout the state to reduce delays in addressing jammed machines.
Turnout numbers statewide will not be available until returns come in Tuesday night, though a handful of precincts that are piloting electronic poll books for voter check-in may be able to give turnout numbers throughout the day.
The weather is cooperating. Despite a cool start, just about 33 degrees at sunrise, the high temperature should reach 64 degrees under sunny skies in Providence, the National Weather Service says.
and the dumocrats may want to also win the popular vote.
The machines they use in CT count a ballot almost instantly. Insert ballot, wait about 2 seconds and it is ready for the next one.
It’s about this time the RATS Drag out the liberal judge to extend voting hours
Ours has never been so organized. We were impressed!
My Democrat area (40% Jewish, rest Asian & white college kids & professionals) voted VERY heavily. MANY new first time voters there.
I am in Pittsburgh. It was VERY well run today. Better than I ever saw it.
Well, would YOU want your vote fraud exposed?
Not really so amazing.
Hey gang...conservatives exist here in Roger Williams creation. The “ build the wall” mantra resonates with Democrats here.
Bernie defeated H in primary...
Two words: “Paper Ballot”
Right you are!! Johnston,RI the street center lines are painted the Italian flag colors. Lets just say I had personal experience with them.
“who want to call BS on this. MACHINE can’t keep up?!?! You don’t need huge cpu power to process a vote”
No kidding! Your average little hand held math machine can do more than is necessary for a voting machine.
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