Poll workers in Georgia appear to have been unprepared for the waves of voters who turned out on Tuesday. Officials were scrambling to bring additional equipment to the polls and to field calls from frustrated voters forced to wait in line for hours across the state. Meanwhile, some who called county officials got busy signals or reached voicemail boxes for election offices that were full.
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Georgia Voters Face Hourslong Waits as State Scrambles to Accommodate Turnout
Houston Poll Worker Hurls Racist Remarks, Faces Criminal Charge
A poll worker in Houston, Texas, was relieved of her duties and escorted from the polling location after hurling racist comments and bumping into a voter. She now faces a criminal assault charge.
Illinois via NBC Chicago
Chicago Election Officials Will Ask to Extend Poll Hours After Late Openings
Several Chicago poll sites didn’t open on time, so election officials are asking a judge to keep them open later. Also, some voters reported not receiving the second page of their ballots.
Glitch in Ohio County Incorrectly Marks Voters as Having Already Cast a Ballot
A computer glitch in Geauga County, Ohio, caused the voter registration check-in systems to incorrectly mark some voters as having already voted by absentee ballot. The county’s election director said no voters were turned away because of the mistake.
The Ballots of Madison County
Scanners in Madison County, Alabama, are having trouble reading ballots punched through “too hard” by voters and swollen by moisture, which could mean a hand count later. Neither issue is new to the county.
Despite Conflicting Messages, Cellphones Are Allowed in Nebraska Poll Booths
Voters in Nebraska are allowed to use cellphones inside polling booths, reported the Omaha World-Herald after a voter alerted Electionland that a poll worker told her she could not vote if she was using a cellphone.
Nothing Can Be Done About Pastor’s Sign Near Florida Polling Place, Authorities Say
The Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Office received dozens of complaints about a sign erected by a church’s pastor at a polling site that reads “Don’t vote for Democrats on Tuesday and sing ‘Oh how I love Jesus’ on Sunday.” The office says it can’t be removed because it is on private property outside the 100-foot perimeter where campaigning isn’t allowed.
Long Lines Test Voter Patience Across the Nation
Voters reported waits of an hour and longer on Election Day in areas ranging from the Gulf coasts of Texas and Florida to parts of Missouri and South Carolina, up to Chicago, rural central Pennsylvania and New York City. Polling places opening late, voting machine outages, understaffing and sheer volume caused some voters to abandon the lengthy lines before casting their ballots.
In the Houston area, voters waited over half an hour for polls to open as staff struggled to get voting machinery online. Voters who were late for their jobs left polling places in Brooklyn as high turnout and downed ballot scanners led to waits of up to two hours.
Security Guards Block Access to Polling Station inside a Gated Community in South Florida
A polling location was moved into a facility in a private community, and security guards demanded IDs from voters who turned up to cast their ballots.
Confusion Over Voter ID Requirement Contributes to Missouri Lines
A judge’s decision two weeks ago allows voters to show something other than a photo ID, but not all poll workers have gotten the message.
Ballot Scanner Issues in Brooklyn Lead to Long Lines
Issues with ballot scanners at a number of polling locations across Brooklyn Tuesday morning led to long lines and confusion.
Humidity to Blame for Some North Carolina Ballot Scanners Not Working
State election officials said that humid conditions in Wake County and other locations have led to machine malfunctions, but that ballots would be counted.
Malfunctions of Voting Machines in Detroit Area Delay Voting
Voters encountered delays due to machines that “froze” or shut down in some way. At least one lost battery power before being restored.
Kansas and Missouri Voters Report Broken Voting Machines, ID Issues
Voters in the Kansas City area have encountered problems voting this morning, particularly around the issue of valid voter ID.
Polling Location in Somerset County, New Jersey, Opens Late
Voters waited more than an hour for a polling place at Quail Brook Senior Center in Franklin Township to open this morning.
Delayed Starts, Missing Ballots, Vandalism at Polling Places in Baltimore
At least three polling locations around the city experienced hiccups as polls opened Tuesday morning.
Oops, We Forgot to Plug In the Voting Machine
Polls have barely opened on the East Coast, and voting machines — and people — are already causing a few foul-ups. Experts say that the errors are normal, and that none that have emerged so far should prevent voters from casting a ballot.
“There are literally hundreds of thousands of voting machines being set up, mostly by volunteer poll workers, and sometimes there are problems,” said David Becker, the executive director of the Center for Election Innovation & Research. “Most important thing is for the poll workers to contact their local election officials, who are most likely expecting some issues and will be ready to send help.”
Texas County Faces Long Lines, Technical Difficulties as Voting Begins
Voters in Harris County are seeing long lines at multiple polling locations because of problems with check-in technology and voting machines.
