Widespread Systematic
Dirty Tricks in Minority Precincts
Philadelphia & Montgomery County & Allegheny County & Delaware County
and
(Touch screens switching votes from Kerry
to Bush, or registering no
vote for Presdient,
systematic dirty
tricks in minority precincts, extremely widespread machine malfunction,
long lines,
not enough backup paper ballots, voters unable to vote, student voting problems and
Confusion
& Loss of Presidential Votes of Straight Party Ballot Voters)
http://www.flcv.com/philadel.html
(systematic dirty tricks, touch screen
switching votes from Kerry to Bush, long lines, suppression of minority voters,
registration/provisional ballot problems, absentee ballot problems, possible pollworker malfeasance, student voting problems) http://www.flcv.com/montgomp.html
Mercer County(Malfunctioning touch screen machines, touch screen switching from Kerry to Bush, voters in minority precincts unable to vote, long lines, extremely high undervotes, malfeasance of officials) http://www.flcv.com/mercerpa.html
(smaller counties in general did not have a very active hotline report system)
http://www.flcv.com/beaverpa.html
Allegheny County (malfeasance of poll workers, registration problems, AB problems, not allowing provisional ballots, voters not advised of proper polling place, systematic dirty tricks, student voting problems) (see below)
Lehigh County (Dirty Tricks & Straight Ticket Not vote for Kerry, Broken machines/ long lines, registration problems) (see below)
(only 3 counties were extensively surveyed and those not completely)
(only dirty tricks and straight ticket voting “searched” for other than 3 counties)
Pennsylvania Student Voting Problems http://www.flcv.com/studentv.html
Straight Ticket Voting
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046496 |
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Other polling place problem |
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A woman who wanted to split her vote (kerry
for President and Specter for Senate) and asked for assistance at the polling
place was told that she could not split her vote and must vote straight party
line. As a result she ended up voting straight Republican. She reported this
incident to EP volunteer. |
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035255 |
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Other polling place problem |
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Poll Worker told him that he had to vote Straight Party Line- He
wanted to vote for different persons based on the office. |
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054712 |
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Machine problem |
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Voter cast ballot and when he exited the site he explained how
he voted. First he hit the top button used to vote a straight party ticket. After
he hit individual candidate buttons for candidates in the same party - this
had the effect os undoing his straight ticket
selection and he didn't cast a vote for some candidates. He then hit a red
button intended only for election workers - we're fairly sure his vote was
then made ineffective. |
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054754 |
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Other polling place problem |
61st & |
Male polling staffer told complainant that she couldn't vote for
a Republican candidate if she was a registered Democrat |
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054868 |
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Machine problem; Other |
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Pamphlet instructions misunderstood with reference to
"red" button (used for write-ins) and red button #1 (used for
straight democratic) - the result is that some believe they are voting by
pressing the red button but their votes are not going through because the
green button (that finalizes the vote) has not been pressed. |
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048445 |
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Other polling place problem |
Ward 19 District 14, |
Poll workers are directing voters to different voting machines,
depending upon voter registration cards or stated preference. Election judge
confirmed that party determines which machine they use. |
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049632 |
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Voter Intimidation |
Brith Shalom House, |
Pollworkers asking people their
party affiliation before allowing them to vote. |
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Allegheny County (malfeasance of poll workers, registration problems, AB problems, not allowing provisional ballots, voters not advised of proper polling place)
(this is limited sample)
Polling place problems
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029061 |
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Machine problem Long line |
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One of two electronic
touch-screen voting machines at polling place is out of service. Machine will
not turn on. |
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030539 |
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Other ballot-related problem |
pentecostal , |
local official refuses to
give prov ballot to voters claiming resgistered, but no record.("not reg
so no ballot; I heard prov ballots not being
counted so why bother") Elec prot vol called; he will get in
touch with local attorney. |
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035843 |
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Other ballot-related problem |
Presbyterian Church, |
at wrong table; they
were inefficient in redirecting her to right table |
|
034473 |
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Voter Intimidation |
Glen Shaw Presbyterian Church |
Poll worker
("majority vote lady") inside polling place was talking about
president candidate Bushy and how good he was. Caller felt it could pressure
voters |
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030077 |
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Other polling place problem |
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Older white men asking african americans there ward numbers.
Allegheney county was not helpful in telling her
where she should vote. People are being told the wrong Church name. Polling
place location had changed and it was unclear where to go next. Had to go to
four polling places before getting to the right one. Polling place not
clearly identified. |
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036273 |
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Voter Intimidation |
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The voter called in to
advise that at the polling place, Kedrin & lang, the |
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043151 |
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Registration-related problem |
St. Scholastica Church, Aspenwall PA, |
Voter registration card
had the wrong polling location address (Aspenwall
Presbyterian Church) on it. The church was not actually a polling place.
Voter went to other polling locations trying to determine where to vote but
got the run around at the poll and no one offered him the opportunity to cast
a provisional ballot. After going to two other polling locations, he finally
figured out where to go. He called the correct polling location later that
day and asked them to put a sign up to alert voters of the mistake, but does
not know whether any action was taken. |
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043617 |
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Registration-related problem; Polling place inquiry |
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Voter waited half an
hour in the wrong line due to having 2 polling places in same location. This
happened twice in a short period of time. |
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048916 |
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Other |
Robinson 2nd-Raccoon Presbyterian Churchin
Bulgar, Macdonald, |
Told thal all voters must sign in pencil -Refused to allow
sign in in pen. Insisted that ballots be handed to
poll workers who put them into the box themselves. Procedure re requiring pencil
longstanding in that area -Last year voted in Robinson 3rd and same problem. Tld officials that wrong but they refused to listen. |
Registration problems/provisionals/absentees
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023819 |
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Absentee-ballot related problem |
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Was told by county elections board that her absentee ballot will
not be accepted tomorrow. |
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049161 |
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Registration-related problem; Problem based on student status;
Provisional ballot problem |
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Registered in a registration drive on campus- told she could
vote from school address. Denied the right at polling place. Denied a
provisional ballot. |
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039993 |
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Other |
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Sample ballot was different from the real ballot. Democrats and
Republicans are reversed on sample and real ballot. Voted for wrong party
because of sample. Poll workers wouldn't let her cancel and vote again
because the machine would not allow it. |
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042642 |
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Registration-related problem; Voter Intimidation |
YMCA, Dupont , |
Caller and wife were turned away at poll location. Caller told
he could not vote and that it was his fault because he hadn't voted in 4
years. Caller said that poll worker: Aaron Hall :
got very confrontational, got in his face, yelled and embarassed
caller and his wife. Caller called night before #025549. Another poll worker
told caller's wife she could vote wit provisional ballot. Constable appeared
and told caller he was right and poll worker was wrong. Caller too embarassed to vote there. He called court house and voted
in another location. |
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044605 |
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Provisional ballot problem; Polling place inquiry |
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Provisonal ballots ran out
mid-morning. At least 7 people needed them after that. Philip Walker, Judge
of Elections, and attorneys asked for them several times. He has no
expectation of getting them in time. He's sending people to other polling
places in the hope that there are provisional ballots there. |
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045922 |
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Registration-related problem |
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wrong location |
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056583 |
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Other polling place problem |
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sent to wrong polling site |
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056618 |
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Registration-related problem; Other polling place problem |
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Registration not listed; sent to wrong polling site |
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031559 |
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Registration-related problem; Provisional ballot problem |
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Registered to vote in person on last permissible day in October,
but name is not on rolls. Checked both 19th and 21st precincts at her polling
place. Also, people at the table for the 19th Precinct are telling people
that provisional ballots will not be counted. |
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047014 |
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Provisional ballot problem |
Carrick Regency High Rise. Ward 29, District |
Told voter she has been purged from the record becuase she has not voted since the last presidential
election and they refuse to give her a provisional ballot. |
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056549 |
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Other |
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Voter was not on rolls even though she had voted in the last
presidential election and in the primaries this year. She used a provisional
ballot. Poll workers confirmed she had voted here in the past. |
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038093 |
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Other |
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Moveon pac worker
told by staffer at polling place that the staff has been instructed and is
following instructions to record the name of each person who votes on a card
and give the card to the Republican party oberver
at the poll. There is no Democratic party observer present. The caller said
that the was told by a Republican party official
that that is standard operating procedure in that district. Was also told,
falsely, that democratic party person was present. |
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049711 |
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Voter Intimidation |
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Republican poll worker was observed telling voter not to park
where they were parking and to keep driving. Person observing is head
custodian of property and knew that the person could park there. |
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049807 |
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Criminal status-related problem |
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Woman was told downtown when she registered that she couldn't
vote for 5 years after release.Voter rights sheet
contradicts this |
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049821 |
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Other polling place problem |
Sycamore and 13th, |
Voter initially tuned away, told she was at wrong voting place.
After checking with county registrar, she returned here. Entered polling
place, and determined she belonged here. She voted. Found her name, but after
three tries. |
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042026 |
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Machine problem |
Harrisburgh, |
Only one machine working. Other broke before polls opened. And
the only working machine does not seem to be working right; this is second
report of the one remaining machine being faulty. Voter pressed red button
for Democratic ticket. Was told by poll worker his vote did not register.
Poll worker looked in back of machine and a few minutes later said his vote
counted. |
|
050206 |
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Machine problem; Long lines |
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Only 2 machines for largest precinct in the area. Only one
machine working. Straight ticket sticking on other machine as of 8:00a. 12
had left without voting due to wait/long line. |
|
040706 |
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Voter Intimidation; Machine problem |
Highland Park Fire Co. - Cedar Ave. Upper Darby, Upper Darby,
Delaware County, Pennsylvania |
3 problems Serious-- 1. lever on voting
machine prevented voting for multiple parties. Pres- Dem and Repub- Senate. Could not vote this way on the lever
machine-- People outside the booth telling voters that they msut choose a party before they vote. 2. Lever for
Democratic President could not be pulled down. Advised person a Joe Bazziani- Heavily Republican District- he poked head in
and said everything is fine. he kept peeking in the
curtain and demanded that she finish and that she had voted. 3. her Mom and sister tried to vote. They were first told
that they had to declare what party and then they would be allowed to Vote--
When they said Republican they went inot the booth
and were told that they had voted just pull the handle./
They were lied to about how the machines worked and need help at this polling
place to straighten out a mess. |
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040447 |
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Other ballot-related problem |
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The registration card says go to Scullion Field on |
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042156 |
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Registration-related problem |
Darby, |
Registered in Philly where used to live. Called |
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019249 |
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Registration-related problem |
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Caller filled out registration form twice through 3rd party
group but hasn't received registration card so doesn't know if she is registered |
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024064 |
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Polling place inquiry |
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Caller moved from a
different address in |
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032130 |
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Voter Intimidation; Other polling place problem |
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Caller
complained that there are Republican Party members sitting at the polling
desk and that they would not allow a Democratic Party member to sit at the
desk and made her stand outside the building |
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|
047684 |
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Other ballot-related problem |
Exton Community Baptist Churh; |
When voting, she started at back of ballot. Ballots were the
kind that had to be punched. When she got to the first page of the ballot,
she filled in a circle at the top of the ballot that said to vote straight for the party, punch here.
So she punched democratic. Several other people did this also. Her husband
voted 6 hours later and was told not to do this, because if he did, his vote
would not count. She is concerned that her vote will not count |
|
032642 |
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Absentee-ballot related problem; Registration-related problem;
Other |
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Caller's wife's absentee ballot it said punch 46 for straight democratic ticket (or so it
looked to her). This morning when caller went to the polls, the straight
democratic ticket was 42. At both the polls and on the absentee ballot, the
straight republican ticket was 44. Not sure whether wife misread or there was
a misprint on the absentee ballot [P] |
Lehigh County Dirty Tricks & Straight Ticket Not vote for Kerry
|
017464 |
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Registration-related problem; Other |
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Group mascarading as EP; registered
people and people are not registered with the board of elections. |
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|
055099 |
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Registration-related problem; Provisional ballot problem; Other
polling place problem |
Cedar & 11th, |
Voter was not on rolls & not permitted to cast machine
ballot (cast provisional ballot). Polling place staff did not call county
office to check voter's status. I called registrar & it turned out that
voter had been in the wrong location. After th is,
I tried to get election judge to call registrar to confirm procedures for
voters not on local lists, but he refused & told me to get out.
Eventually, one of the other poll workers came out to talk to me, and she was
willing to talk to registrar. After that, we got no more reports of
provisional ballots being used. |
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|
055165 |
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Other |
Salvation Army 8th & Turner, |
"Future date (Nov 5) on properly & timely new voter
card" |
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055325 |
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Registration-related problem |
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voter is registered but address on file is
incorrect - voter wants to vote by regular ballot. voter was told to go to
precinct of incorrect address and vote - voter decided not to vote and left
frustrated |
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|
043102 |
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Other |
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misvoted - instruction on
sample ballot said to leave the lever down but didn't say that by leaving it
down you were casting a vote. When voter did so and saw all the tabs went to
down position she pushed the Kerry/Edwards tab up. Ended up voting for
everyone on the democraric ticket except Kerry but
wanted to vote for Kerry |
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|
029304 |
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Other ballot-related problem |
Dicetown District 1 (Dicetown
Firehall), |
Punch card ballot; voter voted for each democratic candidate
individually, but also punched "10" for the straight democratic
ticket. Concerned that because he made more than one choice, the vote will
not be counted. |
|
016598 |
|
Registration-related problem; Other |
Hermitage, |
Voter calling to report two incidents of fraud she is aware of
in |
Luzerne & Northhampton Counties (Denial of Provisional ballots)
|
048408 |
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Registration-related problem; Provisional ballot problem |
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went to vote-registered to vote several years
ago-- did not vote- feels that she registered less than 2 years ago at
Unemployment Office. She was denied a provisional ballot- told that she could
not vote if not registered. Is very upset |
|
029346 |
|
Provisional ballot problem |
Corner of |
Couple tried to get a provisional ballot, and
were
initially denied. They registered to vote 6 months ago but their names were
not on the list. Woman requested a provisional ballot but was denied |
Possible malfeasance, polling place problems, broken machines, voter confusion
|
030837 |
|
Non-English lang. assistance problem; Other polling place
problem |
18-1, |
A self-identified Republican is acting as a translator for
voters, going into the voting booth with them and pressing buttons or
touching the screen on their behalf. This person says they're also the
Republican poll monitor but are not able to produce their certificate, so
they are likely not. |
|
057789 |
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Other polling place problem |
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Voting is at the back of the school. You don't know when you
come to the front where to go. There should be clear signage at the front of
the building. Also, other than a light over the door, it is a dark area, dark
street. |
|
040060 |
|
Machine problem |
|
Hispanic gentleman had some difficulty to understand how to
operate the voting machine. Poll worker told him how to vote the democratic
line but he claimed he did not see the candidates listed. |
|
042414 |
|
Late opening |
Southern Middle School, |
At |
|
046593 |
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Identification-related problem; Other |
|
People operating machines are going in + pressing buttons for
voters. Poll translator + poll watcher who expressed they're voting for
Republican side has no certificate for poll watching + is going in + pressing
buttons. |
|
047703 |
|
Machine problem |
|
1 of 2 voting machines failed for about 15 minutes |
|
055938 |
|
Machine problem |
|
exiting voter reported that a machine had broken down in the
polling place |
|
057714 |
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Registration-related problem |
Millmont school, 400 summit ave,
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voter was missing from rolls
though she states that she has voted there in the past. she was given a
provisional ballot |
|
039246 |
|
Voter Intimidation |
|
She has voted here before--in this precinct--but was told she
wasn't on the list. The Kerry lawyer spoke Spanish and found she had a
government ID and sent her back in. She was bashful and intimidated by the
poll workers. |
Broken machines/long lines
|
044636 |
|
Long lines |
14th Ward, |
very long lines, long wait time. recommend more
voter machines and staff |
|
055221 |
|
Voter Intimidation; Machine problem; Identification-related
problem |
Salvation Army |
Excessive ID requests. Excessive forced use of provisional
ballots. 1 machine broken. |
|
055239 |
|
Machine problem; Long lines; Other |
|
Only 2 machines. Long lines |
Machine use confusion, registration problems
|
023653 |
|
Registration-related problem |
|
Did not receive voter
registration card though she registered two months ago. |
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|
030678 |
|
Registration-related problem |
lanhorne, bucks County, |
didnt get card |
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|
046040 |
|
Machine problem |
|
Believes voter has voted three times(lever
machines). The poll worker provided assistance due to the voter's disbelief
that the vote was counted. This took place twice with the same voter. |
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