Papers Cover Voting Problems in Early Web Stories

By: Joe Strupp With memories still fresh of alleged voting glitches, fraud and long lines just two years ago in many locations, numerous newspapers are making coverage of problems with today's vote a top issue on Web sites today.

As voters go to the polls to cast ballots in what may be the most significant mid-year elections in a dozen years, new concerns about the use of electronic voting machines and uncertainty over the experience of poll workers have made the focus on potential problems, and delays, more relevant than ever.

USA Today appeared to lead the newspaper reporting on the Web today about Election Day problems, with its lead story headlined, "Voting machine problems bedevil multiple states." The lengthy piece revealed information on poll worker confusion with electronic voting in Illinois, computer errors delaying votes in Indiana -- and prompting a court order to extend voting -- and non-functioning machines in Ohio.

Associated Press had several reports focused on voting problems, including one posted by mid-morning headlined "New Rules, Machines Frazzle Poll Workers."

"Programming errors and inexperience dealing with electronic voting machines frustrated poll workers in hundreds of precincts early Tuesday, delaying voters in Indiana, Ohio and Florida and leaving some with little choice but to use paper ballots instead," the story stated. After detailing some specific instances, the story added that "with a third of Americans voting on new equipment and voters navigating new registration databases and changing ID rules, election watchdogs worried about polling problems even before the voting began."

By late morning, The New York Times, The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times had few original Web stories on voting problems. The New York Times posted a version of the AP Web story, along with a blog item on Chelsea Clinton initially being denied a chance to vote in Manhattan because her name was not on the rolls. She did reportedly cast an affidavit ballot. The Post's main election day primer referred to some newspapers Web reports in other states, as well as the AP coverage of problems.

In Ohio, where the majority of voting problems and fraud complaints came about in the 2004 presidential elections, each major paper offered early voting problem reports.

The Plain Dealer in Cleveland had a story about more than 40 of the 573 polling places in its home county reporting problems with polls, stating that they either opened late or had electronic voting machine problems. The paper also ran a story about an 18-year-old in Cleveland Heights who was initially denied his first chance to vote, before proving that he was properly registered.

An AP story out of Cleveland tabulated problems ranging from lines as long as 30-people deep forming in Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus to examples of voter being denied the chance to cast ballots, despite having proof of registration. Many Ohio stories pointed to problems stemming from the state requiring proof of identification for the first time this year.

"They did offer me a provisional ballot but I have absolutely no faith in provisional ballots," one voter denied the chance to vote told AP. "I don't want to do a ballot that I fear won't be counted." One elections board received so many calls from voters and poll workers that the county's phone system collapsed for about 90 minutes, the story added.

At the Blade in Toledo, however, a top story reported few glitches in its local county voting, adding that there was "decent traffic at most polling locations but not long lines." The Columbus Dispatch had an early story about the county phone system crashing for 90 minutes under the weight of voter and poll worker calls.

Newspapers in Florida, where problems from the 2000 presidential voting are also still fresh, offered their own early Web reports. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale declared "few problems in Broward County," while The Miami Herald reported a 90-minute delay in voting in Deerfield Beach.

"Only three people had voted when all 14 machines stopped working," the Herald reported about the effect in one precinct. "After about 45 minutes, voters in Precinct 26A were able to cast ballots on four machines. But most voters, those in Precinct 23A, were out of luck until about 8:30 a.m., when technicians were able to get at least some machines back online."

At The Houston Chronicle, voters casting ballots in former Rep. Tom Delay's old district found electronic machine problems that delayed votes and cast "some uncertainty on ballots already cast." The paper also had an example of voting machines being used in the wrong district.

The Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News both played up a story about the Colorado Democratic Party seeking a two-hour voting extension after computer problems delayed voting statewide.

USA Today was one of several newspaper's seeking reader input on voting problems, with a site page asking online users to e-mail their voting stories, along with photos. "Whether you're taking a picture of your polling station or not, Electionline wants to hear about your voting experience today," the paper's request stated. "When did you go? Was the experience smooth? Was it ugly? How were the lines? How did you cast your ballot -- computer, paper or otherwise -- and what did you think of the method? And how's the weather where you are?"

Initial comments from USA Today readers offered a mix of smooth operations and frustrating problems.

"Today when voting in Broward County Florida ... there were people doing last minute campaigning at the entry door. I believe it is illegal to do that within a certain distance of the voting area," one reader stated in an e-mail. Another from New York wrote in, "My polling station level action machine was not working @ 6:10, 10 minutes after polls opened, had to use 'Emergency Paper Ballot'."

But others indicated no glitches, such as the Texas reader who wrote, "the electronic process was pretty intuitive and went smoothly," adding later that "weather here in Texas is sunny and seasonally warm."

The Chicago Tribune sought stories from voters as well, with Web pages set aside for input on how smoothly the ballots were cast. "Did you experience any difficulties while casting your vote?" The Tribune site asked. "Tell us about it. (You may also report irregularities to the U.S. attorney's office at 312-469-6157.)"

The Boston Globe, meanwhile, listed Web sites and phone numbers to call with voter problems.