California Election Problems

 

Los Angeles(Machine problems, polling place problems, registration misfeasance)

(see below)

 

Alameda County(machines not working, voters get provisional ballots, touch screen switching in Presidential race)  (see below)

 

Riverside County (Touchscreen switching in Presidential race)

(see below)

 

Orange County  (Some touch screens arent registering presidential vote-default to blank?; , broken machines, long lines,

 not enough working machines, malfunctioning machines not recording everyones vote) 

http://www.flcv.com/orangets.html

 

Sacramento County (touch screen malfunctions, long lines)   (see below)

 

Napa County (touch screen problems)

 

 

San Diego. A judge ruled to ignore the votes of thousands of voters who neglected to fill in a bubble beside their

 write-in vote” for Donna Frye for mayor.   She got the most votes but wasn’t named the winner.              http://www.votersunite.org/article.asp?id=3965

 

 

Alameda County. Students at Berkeley were given provisional ballots when they chose the option for paper

mandated by the Secretary of State. In one precinct nearly half the ballots were provisional

http://www.berkeleydaily.org/text/article.cfm?issue=11-16-04&storyID=20110

 

 

Riverside County. After Secretary of State Kevin Shelley directed all touch screen counties to provide a paper

ballot option, poll workers did not offer it and were resistant to providing it even to those who asked.                  http://www.votersunite.org/article.asp?id=3833

 

Only two of the 10 touchscreen counties, Santa Clara and Plumas, plan to post signs letting voters know they

 can vote on paper. Even though the voters are properly registered, three counties Alameda, Merced and

San Bernardino plan to treat the e-voting objectors' ballots in the same manner as if they weren't registered.           http://www.votersunite.org/article.asp?id=3567

 

 

Santa Clara County. About one-third of the ballots remain to be counted because of the high numbers of

absentee ballots, paper ballots requested by voters at the polls, and provisional ballots

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/10106097.htm

 

San Francisco. Troubles began on Wednesday after the election when the ES&S software failed to accurately count votes in the city's new ranked-choice voting system, which eliminates the need for expensive runoff elections. the problem stemmed from a safeguard in the software that converts optical scans of ballot results into data that the computer system uses to calculate winners. The conversion software shutdown when the amount of data entering the system had reached a level set by the vendor. (This sounds similar to the Election Management Systems' 32,767 vote limit encountered in NC, and FL.)               http://www.votersunite.org/article.asp?id=4745

 

Sacramento. Sacramento officials said they had sporadic trouble with the new scanning machines being used for the first time. By late Tuesday, nine of the 712 machines used countywide had to be replaced because they didn't work. One didn't have a power cord. Others had minor glitches.

Nearly two dozen polling places in Sacramento County ran out of ballots.

http://www.votersunite.org/article.asp?id=3883

 

Orange County. Neal Kelley, chief deputy registrar said that during the first half of the day they had handled only sporadic glitches           http://www.votersunite.org/article.asp?id=3648

 

Voters report that they haven't received their absentee ballots yet. Fresno (1,537 were reissued), Kings (68), Madera (395), and Tulare (300).  http://www.votersunite.org/article.asp?id=3592

 

 

San Diego. The first blunder occurred the first week of October, when the county had to send warning letters to 36,000 voters because of a mix-up with absentee ballots at a printing company in Fresno. Wrong ballots were stuffed in some of the ballot envelopes mailed to voters. So far, 65 voters have reported receiving the wrong ballots

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20041030-9999-2m30voting.html

 

San Diego. The method of determining if the absentee ballot is correct doesn't work. One voter reported, "One side was for San Diego, the other side was for Lemon Grove. The front of the ballot is correct. It's the back of the ballot that's wrong   http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20041030-9999-2m30voting.html

 

San Diego. People report they were listed as "inactive" voters when they actually have voted for years                 http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20041030-9999-2m30voting.html

 

San Diego County. At least 8 voters have received incorrect absentee ballots because of the printing company's error       

    http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20041012-9999-1m12absentee.html

 

Nevada County. Numerous absentee ballots have gone missing in Nevada County recently. Clerk-Recorder Kathleen Smith insists ballots for previously registered absentee voters were mailed on Oct. 4 and should have been received by Oct. 8 

Most absentee ballots had blacked-out portions on the back, the result of elections officials trying to correct a mistake without reprinting ballots    http://www.votersunite.org/article.asp?id=3530

 

San Bernadino. Thousands of voters may be forced to cast provisional ballots when they go to the polls because the county registrar is overwhelmed with a flood of late registrations

http://www.votersunite.org/article.asp?id=3507

 

Napa County. Registrar John Tuteur has declared that people who don't want to use the e-voting machines will be asked to wait for everyone else in line at the time to cast their votes before they will be given a paper ballot          http://www.votersunite.org/article.asp?id=3466

 

Riverside County, Palm Desert. Contrary to instructions by the Secretary of State, the Registrar is not providing paper ballots as an alternative for voters who don't want to vote on the touch screens

http://www.votersunite.org/article.asp?id=3430

 

Solano County. Hundreds of absentee ballots mailed on Oct 6. to Rio Vista residents have been "lost" in the mail             http://www.votersunite.org/article.asp?id=3404

 

Santa Clara County. Poll workers are being trained not to tell voters that they can vote on paper ballots, contrary to the edict of Secretary of State Shelley. Instead, they will make paper ballots available only if voters specifically request them           http://www.eff.org/news/archives/2004_10.php#002010

 

 

 

 

Los Angeles(Machine problems, polling place problems, registration misfeasance)

 

 

Machine problems/polling place problems/misfeasance

034208

11/02/04, 8:34 AM PST

Late opening; Other polling place problem

Pico Park Community Center, 9528 Beverly Blvd., Pico Rivera, Pico Rivera, Los Angeles County, California

 inkavote machine not working. Voter in front of her found that machine did not register votes on ballot. Knowing this, this voter punched hard 4 times on each vote and got it to work.

019519

11/01/04, 7:36 AM PST

Machine problem

Culver City - City Hall, Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, California

The wrong ballot appeared on the screen. Diebold machine was used. Voter was also told by another voter that their voting machine at the same polling place "froze" - but that it later "unfroze".

033995

11/02/04, 8:23 AM PST

Registration-related problem; Machine problem

Appartus Bay - Orange Table Fire Station #99 14145 Mulholland Drive, Beverly Hills, LA County, California

Voting station had wrong voter lists. Workers having them sign in.(Not provisional ballots) Guy-in-charge (Tall african-american man) said to workers that they were not allowed to use two out of seven polling boothes and said (paraphrase)"When it gets busy encourage voters to vote only for national elections." Seems to be a problem with machines/and voter lists.

034208

11/02/04, 8:34 AM PST

Late opening; Other polling place problem

Pico Park Community Center, 9528 Beverly Blvd., Pico Rivera, Pico Rivera, Los Angeles County, California

Chaos at the polling location. One table not open and it is 8:30 a.m. Making people fill out provisional ballots. Volunteers do not know anything. Signs are only in English and no one is helping the non-English speakers. Later: inkavote machine not working. Voter in front of her found that maching did not register votes on ballot. Knowing this, this voter punched hard 4 times on each vote and got it to work.

035475

11/02/04, 9:22 AM PST

Machine problem

Whittaker and Lauden street, Los Angeles, philadelphyia County, California

Voting machine skipped between 71 and 77 in between two voters.

036524

11/02/04, 9:56 AM PST

Machine problem

Nazareth House 3333 Manning Ave , Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California

Machine is misrecording votes, and precint worker says that's just how it is - doesn't give new votes. Voters cannot line up the card correctly b/c does not fit right in the machine.

037596

11/02/04, 10:49 AM PST

Machine problem

1717 North Gramercy Place, Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California

No machines to vote. Making everyone vote by provisional ballot. People left because they had to wait for so long. Also heard on KPFK about the problem.

039103

11/02/04, 11:27 AM PST

Machine problem

eastwood elementary school, westminister, los angeles County, California

voting machines broke. paper ballots improperly put into box under the table,WHERE THEY COULD NOT BE SEEN. voter is very unsure whether votes are secure.

049118

11/02/04, 5:35 PM PST

Machine problem

Whaley Middle School (14401 South Gileson Drive), Compton, Los Angeles County, California

No voting machines at Polling Place

049990

11/02/04, 6:23 PM PST

Machine problem; Late opening; Other polling place problem

10401 Gibson (Whaley Middle School), Los Angeles County, California

Polls did not open until 9:30 AM, when Registrar arrived with voting machines that were missing from the supply box. Approximately 100-200 voters turned away. Some (approx. 50+) voting by provisional ballots. Many voters unable to return later due to work.

050238

11/02/04, 6:49 PM PST

Machine problem

4719 Farmdale Avenue, Los Angeles County, California

Says machine didn't work - punched holes with the ink system. They never told her not to punch it through or that she did it wrong and just took her ballot.

050502

11/02/04, 7:22 PM PST

Machine problem; Other ballot-related problem; Other polling place problem

1717 Grammercy Hollywood-Beverly Christian Church, la, LA County, California

parking lot closed by church administrator, no handicap parking available, polling place not well lit...appears that the polling place is closed from a car. Claims that access would be impossible in a wheelchair b/c of buckled sidewalk. Did not feel safe getting to the polling place because of the lack of light. This morning none of the machines were  working. noticed several people seeing the locked gate and are leaving. Poll place is open, but it is not apparent.

 

 

 

Registration Problems/Provisional ballot problems

036211

11/02/04, 9:54 AM PST

Registration-related problem

misfeasance

3515 Overland Avenue, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California

Caller originally tried to register to vote over a year ago. When she received her voter information she noticed that her name was mispelled. She sent in a corrected name form and sent it to the registrar. When she moved in July she filed a change of address. In October she called to make sure she was registered correctly and found they had her incorrect name and wrong address. She tried using the secretary of state website to register but when the information arrived in the mail it was mangled and her personal information had been stolen. She also filled out a registration form from the post office and mailed it towards the beginning of October. She did finally receive a yellow voter registration card and a sample ballot, however, when she went to vote they said her name was not on the list and she was forced to use a provisional ballot. [P]

016309

10/27/04, 3:43 PM PST

Registration-related problem

Los Angeles County, California

Caller originally called about her registrations status as the local elections office informed her that she is not registered. Someone from the hotline returned her call and left a message for her suggesting she look for proof of registration. The caller was following up re that message and informed me that she had located her receipt from when she registered. She inquired what she now needed to do with the receipt.

 

Alameda County(machines not working, voters get provisional ballots)

049957

11/02/04, 6:26 PM PST

Late opening

Burbank Elementary School, Oakland, Alameda County, California

late opening and wrong procedure. Janitor apparently not at site, so machines not set up, so btw 7 am and 8 am even well after voters were given provisional ballots. thinks problems were fixed after 8 am but not sure. there were ~ 10-15 people at the polls at 730 and about 10-15 more by the time caller left at 8 am or so. Mostly Af American voters.

 

 

Alameda County  (Diebold DRE Machine Problems, Voter intimidation)

 

051264

11/03/04, 10:39 AM PST

Machine problem

1499 Alcatraz, Berkeley, Berkeley, Alameda County County, California

Diebold touch-screen machines at African-American precinct. Voter drove workers to polls this morning. NONE of machines were working from 7:00 a.m. oening until 8;45 a.m.

 

057774

11/15/04, 7:36 AM PST

Machine problem

Alameda County, California

Forwarded via e-mail to eirhelp: Early on we had a lot of problems with the voter access cards not being consistently readable in the voting machines. I ended up putting 1 of my 10 VCE cards aside. The problem seemed much worse in the morning, so perhaps the cards or the readers were dirty and eventually cleaned themselves. We had one very strange problem. On one machine, just once, when the ballot came up on the screen, there were no boxes whatsover for the voter to touch to cast a vote. I did not see this, but my wife, who is the precint inspector, personally verified that it was not possible to vote for anyone on the first page of the ballot. She cancelled the ballot and the next time everything went fine. This was the only occurrence of this problem.

 

043373

11/02/04, 2:36 PM PST

Other ballot-related problem

LaConte Ave. University Christian Church, Berkeley, Alameda County, California

HIGHLY URGENT: REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION: people at polling place said they never received paper ballots, voter used touch screen machine instead. Was offered paper provisional ballot.

051585

11/03/04, 12:48 PM PST

Other ballot-related problem

Firestation #2, corner of Kenry and Berkley, Berkley, Alameida County, California

requested a paper ballot instead of using the touch screenm machine and was given a provisional ballot. This is happenig a lot in this polling place. On the envelope of the provisonal ballot, there was a box saying he requested a paper ballot.

 

032974

11/02/04, 7:34 AM PST

Machine problem

Oakland, Alameda County, California

She is a volunteer attorney in the field and says that the DRE machines' IRDA ports are not covered in Oakland. She thinks this could cause problems for the machines.

034637

11/02/04, 8:59 AM PST

Machine problem

Fruitvale Presbyterian Church; 2735 MACARTHUR BLVD, Oakland, Alameda County County, California

Electronic voting machine malfunction reported.

035529

11/02/04, 9:24 AM PST

Machine problem

ROSE GARDEN INN, 2740 TELEGRAPH , BERKELEY, ALAMEDA County, California

CALLER TURNED IN ABSENTEE BALLOT, BUT THEN ASKED WORKERS ABOUT MACHINE. WORKERS TOLD HER THAT THE MACHINES HAD TROUBLE STARTING AND ONE MACHINE KEEPS GOING OUT INTERMITTANTLY.

035793

11/02/04, 9:29 AM PST

Machine problem

456 57th Street., Oakland, CA. B/w Telegraph and Vicente. A garage., Alameda County, California

the voters put the card in the machine, but the card would pop out. When informed of the problem, the poll workers told them to put the cards again. The voters put the cards back and it may / may not worked. At least 5 people involved.

036888

11/02/04, 10:07 AM PST

Machine problem

5915 Sojourner Truth Manor Recreational Area, Oakland, Alameda County, California

Caller and one other person in line did not want to vote using the electronic machine and asked to vote on a paper ballot. She and this other person were given a provisional ballot, not a normal paper ballot. [P]

037096

11/02/04, 10:20 AM PST

Machine problem

Alameda County, California

Janet requested a paper ballot, as she is a computer programmer and does not trust the machines. They gave her a provisional ballot, which upset her. They then put it in a pink envelope and asked her to sign it with her address. They had already verified her signature and ensured that she was a registered voter, so she did not want to fill this information out, as the ballot was then not a secret ballot.

037571

11/02/04, 10:28 AM PST

Provisional ballot problem

alcatraz street, berkelely, alameda County, California

paper ballot given when machines broke. paper ballots put into "provisional ballot envelopes."

039163

11/02/04, 11:32 AM PST

Machine problem

Mosswood Recreation Center, Oakland, Alamed County, California

Electronic voting - a voter that she had been talking to on line had a problem with the machines that he didn't want to report, so she decided that she would report. While reviewing his votes, he discovered that the votes were differently registered (for example, voted for one candidate - Kerry - for Pres. and the machine showed that he had voted for a different person/ and votes on several different propositions were different as well). She didn't get his name. She decided to report this after thinking about it.

039232

11/02/04, 11:53 AM PST

Machine problem

686 Mariposa Avenue, Oakland, CA, Alameda County County, California

Discomfort with electronic machine. Requested a paper ballot. Received a provisional ballot. Displeased with the fact that it was not anonymous.

039792

11/02/04, 11:52 AM PST

Machine problem

Berkeley Claremont Library, Berkeley, Alameda County, California

Inserted card into machine, entered all votes, button appeared to scroll down to review votes, and machine turned off. Diebold Machine, "Accuvote." Notified poll workers--said the woman who knew what to do was getting coffee, he waited, they decided he should vote again--turned on machine, completed same process again, and same thing happened. At the same time, 2 more machines went off. They started handing out provisional ballots. They let people currently using machines complete voting, and are allowing people to use the machines if they request, but are giving everyone else provisional ballots. They had gotten a new stack of provisional ballots.

043373

11/02/04, 2:36 PM PST

Other ballot-related problem

LaConte Ave. University Christian Church, Berkeley, Alameda County, California

HIGHLY URGENT: REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION: people at polling place said they never received paper ballots, voter used touch screen machine instead. Was offered paper provisional ballot.

044416

11/02/04, 2:49 PM PST

Insufficient number of ballots; Other ballot-related problem

Lakeside Park Garden Vista Room 666 Belvue Ave., Oakland, Alameda County, California

URGENT: REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION: Voter wanted to vote by paper ballot, was told could only vote with provisional paper ballot, said they had no regular paper ballots, and had been instructed to offer provisional ballots to anyone requesting a regular paper ballot. Voter believes many registered voters are voting by provisional ballot thinking they are voting by regular ballot. Mostly people who don't trust computer ballot machines.

044512

11/02/04, 3:29 PM PST

Insufficient number of ballots; Provisional ballot problem; Other ballot-related problem

Malcolm X School on King/Prince Street, Berkeley, Alameda County, California

Voter's sample ballot materials indicated that voter would be voting using optical scan paper ballots. When voter arrived at the polls, the only types of ballots available were electronic voting machine ballots and provisional ballots. The precint had no regular paper ballots. Voter used a provisional paper ballot because he wanted a written record of his vote.

044873

11/02/04, 3:00 PM PST

Provisional ballot problem; Other ballot-related problem

Sojourner Truth Manor 5195 MLP Jr. Way Building B, Oakland, Alameda County, California

FOLLOW UP. Machine polling place. Poll workers are handing out provisional ballots in lieu of paper ballots, and telling people who are entitled to regular ballots that they need to vote provisional when they don't. They should be given authentic paper ballots instead, and the election officials say it's not their problem. The election officials refuse to ask the polling site to guarantee paper ballots for those who request them.

047458

11/02/04, 4:44 PM PST

Provisional ballot problem

Alameda County, California

didn't want to vote on machines and only given provisional ballot; concerned that his provisional ballot wouldn't be counted

047501

11/02/04, 4:43 PM PST

Provisional ballot problem

Laughten Street, Rockridge, Calfornia , CA , Alameda County, California

Poll staffers handing out provisional ballots to voters on the rolls who do not want to use electronic machines, but not explaining nature of provisional ballots or how to use them.

047724

11/02/04, 4:44 PM PST

Machine problem

Brett Harte Street - Precint in North Berkeley, Berkeley, Alameda County, California

When caller was handed his smartcard for voting, one poll worker had to remind another that the card had to be "deactivated" before he could use it to vote. Although he was able to vote successfully, he was concerned that other people might have NOT had their cards deactivated before they used them. Does this have any effect? [Entered by Tara Wheatland]

049957

11/02/04, 6:26 PM PST

Late opening

Burbank Elementary School, Oakland, Alameda County, California

late opening and wrong procedure. Janitor apparently not at site, so machines not set up, so btw 7 am and 8 am even well after voters were given provisional ballots. thinks problems were fixed after 8 am but not sure. there were ~ 10-15 people at the polls at 730 and about 10-15 more by the time caller left at 8 am or so. Mostly Af American voters.

051264

11/03/04, 10:39 AM PST

Machine problem

1499 Alcatraz, Berkeley, Berkeley, Alameda County County, California

Diebold touch-screen machines at African-American precinct. Voter drove workers to polls this morning. NONE of machines were working from 7:00 a.m. oening until 8;45 a.m.

 

 

 

Voter Intimidation

038690

11/02/04, 11:17 AM PST

Voter Intimidation

Public Library on MacArthur and Grand Avenue (Lake Merrit area) , Oakland, Alameda County, California

Voters were in line and/or voting, not a particularly long line, and someone informed them that the librarian of the library at which they were voting was calling the police and when they came out they had all been ticketed for $35. It was all open parking that said "Library Parking" and the ticket said parking on "Private Parking." Multiple people were cited.

 

Sacramento County

 

050817

11/02/04, 8:33 PM PST

Insufficient number of ballots; Provisional ballot problem; Other ballot-related problem; Long lines

10055 Franklin High Rd., Elk Grove, Sacramento County, California

5:45 pm, had run out of official ballots, welcome to leave sample ballots and they would be counted. More official ballots were on the way, and people were told to go to another precinct and cast a provisional ballot and would be counted as official. Running out of ballots again and line was very long. They were told to cast sample ballots. He was able to vote.

036121

11/02/04, 9:38 AM PST

Machine problem

Kit Carson Middle School on Rodeo and M, Sacramento, Sacramento County, California

Scantron machine to count ballots is not working. Ballots are fed into the machine, but the machine is not working, so it registers 0.

 

Napa County

034039

11/02/04, 8:33 AM PST

Machine problem

St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Napa, Napa County, California

Touch screens went down - was told "activator" was not working. Workers giving out provisional ballots to voters.

040682

11/02/04, 12:25 PM PST

Other polling place problem

Rolff's Manor, Napa, Napa County, California

Voting machines down. Was given a provisional ballot. Noted that provisional ballot box was not locked.

 

Riverside County(Touch screen switching)

057769

11/15/04, 7:33 AM PST

Machine problem

Murrieta, Riverside County, California

Forwarded via e-mail to eirhelp: Please help us! Without open examination by impartial computer programming experts of the coding systems used to take, store, transmit and tabulate the electronic votes, and without paper ballot copies to assure a fair recount, the system is illegal, unreliable and clearly open to manipulation - if that has not happened already. I had a questionable experience with the ``black box" voting system this election, and a curt dismissal with ``voter error" is unacceptable. What I experienced was not the result of ``voter error." When I went to push the touch screen to select my choice of candidate, at the lightest touch a gray check appeared next to the name of the Republican candidate. I noticed this and kept pressing, and had to do so quite hard before a green check appeared next to my candidate. I thought this quite odd but figured that the touch screen wasn't as sensitive as it should be, or some random coding problem caused the anomaly. Until I voted for one Republican. The gray check appeared underneath my finger! This suggested to me that this was no random coding problem, and I wondered how many less strong or less observant individuals might not see this. Furthermore, when I completed the candidate section and moved onto the propositions, the touch screen responded correctly to my lightest touch, even in the same regions of the screen that had been touched previously. There is no logical reason that I can see for either of these developments, except for inadequate coding, and the bias for Republican candidates has made me suspicious. I reviewed my ballot and on the screen all appeared well. I did not take down the number of the machine, again believing the circumstance to be an oddity, until my husband spoke to me about his voting experience. He reported that a man had stepped up to one of the machines and then shouted, ``Hey, someone's already voted!" At this a poll worker rebooted the machine. He also told me that he had the same touch screen anomaly, and he was on a different machine. All it would take is one unidentified box in one or even each precinct with inadequate coding to inaccurately and unfairly change the outcome of an important election. Doesn't the idea that exit polls reflecting one outcome and the results of manipulatible polling systems with another outcome suggest to any thoughtful and curious journalist the possibility of foul play, and the need for aggressive investigation? Doesn't my experience suggest to responsible public employees the need to insist on more stringent and fair electronic voting standards? When will you help us? When will you protect us? When will you do everything in your power to ensure our voting rights are protected and to remove all doubt from our minds that the results of an election truly reflect the will of the people.

033049

11/02/04, 8:20 AM PST

Machine problem

7930 Locust Ave, Fontana, Riverside County, California

Eight of Ten electronic machines not working; lines forming.