South Carolina Election Problems 

(Some touch screen machines switch vote from Kerry,  many lost presidential vote due to voting straight party ticket                                                       not counting vote for president unless separately voted, polling place problems/late changes in minority precinct polling                                                      locations without notification, voter intimidation/voter suppression/misinformation from officials/long lines/registration problems,                                      DMV registration problems, student voting problems, absentee ballot problems, early closing poll)

 

 

Lexington County (Polling place problems/ voter intimidation/voter suppression/misinformation from officials/long lines/registration problems, DMV registration problems, student voting problems)

 

Greenville County(Polling place problems, lots of people unable to vote in minority precincts, voter intimidation, registration problems, DMV registration problems, student voting problems)

 

Richland County  (touch screen switching, dirty tricks, polling place problems, late changes in minority precinct polling places without notification, registration and absentee ballot problem)

 

Spartanburg County   

Dirty tricks/intimidation and suppression of minorities/polling place problems, registration problems, absentee problems, early closing poll

 

Charleston  (long lines, machines down in minority precincts, registration problems, absentee ballot problems)

 

York County

Voter intimidation and suppression reported, misformation by poll workers regarding straight party ticket voting and presidential vote, registration problems, absentee problems

 

Berkeley County(Dirty tricks,  touch screen machines broken, people can’t vote, absentee ballot problems, straight Dem ticket loses president vote)

 

 

Touch screen machines switching  vote from Kerry

042752

11/02/04, 1:44 PM PST

Other ballot-related problem

Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina

Couldn't vote straight ballot; time limit of three minutes. MoveOn.org volunteer called - Democratic buttons wouldn't push, and was only allowed 3 minutes to vote. Poll worker said she had voted, that the machines were "very good," and that she needed to leave. (Machines only arrived 2 weeks ago)

040147

11/02/04, 12:02 PM PST

Machine problem

W.A. Perry Middle School, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina

Micro voting machine: hit independent; blinking lights started flashing; he could not change the vote; he ended up voting for Nader, but wanted to vote for Kerry.

031359

11/02/04, 6:29 AM PST

Machine problem

Administrative Building, Central, Pickens County, South Carolina

Electronic voting machine -- 2 columns -- Left = Parties; Right = Names; When touched names column, another screen popped up with only Republicans. She was not clear how to bring up Democrats; touched names on advice of poll worker "if I don't know names of party candidates I want to vote for" and poll worker told her to touch names column.

025998

11/01/04, 4:21 PM PST

Absentee-ballot related problem; Other polling place problem

222 Daniel Avenue, Central, Pickens County, South Carolina

Absentee ballot did not come until this afternoon; says it's due by tomorrow night; ballot includes names of all Republican candidates but no names of Democratic candidates other than Kerry; must fill in names of Democratic candidates; same thing happened to daughter who voted early in South Carolina; she didn't know names of Dem. candidates so only voted for President.

032765

11/02/04, 7:25 AM PST

Machine problem; Late opening

119, Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina

Concerned that first time voters are not being acknowledged; machines are unclear and officals are not being helpful; she was not bale to vote for Pres or VP b/c the machine was not working; offered and emergency ballot; did not take it; she was told that she was not eligble for "help" or "clarification" re machine; once she had started so she was "UNABLE"; there was a pamphlet to read and seh did still had questions; machines broke repeatedly; techs came in to fix it again and again; polls opened 1/2 late because of tech problems; people giving up leaving.

 

 

 

Straight Dem Ticket Dem vote doesn’t vote for Kerry

 

 

031148

11/02/04, 6:18 AM PST

Other ballot-related problem

City Hall in Rock Hill, Rock Hill, York County, South Carolina

Poll workers are telling voters that if they vote a straight party ticket they are voting for president (not true

 

031813

11/02/04, 6:46 AM PST

Machine problem

City Hall, on Paris Avenue, Fort Royal, Buford County, South Carolina

Optical scan machine- rejected card until voter voted on every issue, including things she did not want to vote on. Other machine problems too, poll voters didn't know how to fix it. Party Line voting rejected

032624

11/02/04, 7:16 AM PST

Other ballot-related problem

Summerville, Dorchester County, South Carolina

E-voting machine, if vote straight party, does not include vote for President

 

047571

11/02/04, 4:41 PM PST

Machine problem

Maple Park, Florence, Florence County, South Carolina

Electronic machine problem: Choice of straight ticket or individual offices. I wanted to do individual voting. I voted for locals, referendum. Poll worker explained when you get to the end, hit vote. There was never an opportunity to vote for president. I am computer literate. There was no summary given to me at the end. No paper trail. I had read the pamphlet.

 

032765

11/02/04, 7:25 AM PST

Machine problem; Late opening

119, Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina

 machines are unclear and officals are not being helpful; she was not able to vote for Pres or VP b/c the machine was not working; there was a pamphlet to read and seh did still had questions; machines broke repeatedly; techs cam in to fix it again and again; polls opened 1/2 late because of tech problems; people giving up leaving.

038151

11/02/04, 10:48 AM PST

Machine problem

Pepperhill Elementary School, North Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina

Voted today, when pressed 1 party democratic choice Kerry did not light up, but others did on ticket. Did not report to anyone at polling place, but heard on radio that people were having problem

 

020005

11/01/04, 7:11 AM PST

Other ballot-related problem

dirty tricks

conway elementary school, conway, conway County, South Carolina

concerned that elderly and minority voters won't be aware of change in ballot: sample ballot shown in church; straight democrat vote - not count presidential vote; have to vote for president and straight democrat. before if you just push button for straight ticket, counted presidential vote.

049908

11/02/04, 6:12 PM PST

 

Machine problem

Columbus, Richland County, South Carolina

Party line casting problem eliminated presidential vote

032058

11/02/04, 6:56 AM PST

Other ballot-related problem

City Hall Rockville Boyd Hill, Rockville, York County County, South Carolina

Poll worker is telling people that straight ballot is president vote.

 

 

Lexington County

 

Polling place problems/voter intimidation/voter suppression/misinformation from officials/long lines/student voting problems

 

049197

11/02/04, 5:38 PM PST

Long lines; Other polling place problem

Cox Ferry Road, Church, Lexington, Lexington County, South Carolina

tried to vote on three different occasions; was give conflicting information but finally found the correct polling place. Did not vote because of long lines

049727

11/02/04, 6:02 PM PST

Machine problem; Provisional ballot problem

Irmo High School, Columbia, Lexington County, South Carolina

She is registered to vote. Having trouble with electronic machine; requested paper ballot. Couldn't give it to her and wouldn't help her. Not sure of her vote counted because she did not place her home on ballot. She is angry that no one helped her and that her vote may not count wants to know what to do to make sure her vote counts.

049849

11/02/04, 6:11 PM PST

Provisional ballot problem; Long lines

Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina

Waited in line 3 hours. Was told she could not use provisional ballot. She doesn't have time to go back (has 2 kids). Had registered but did not receive registration certificate

042948

11/02/04, 1:47 PM PST

Other polling place problem

Leap Heart Elementary School, Columbia, Lexington County County, South Carolina

Voter went to vote and poll worker forbade her from taking child into voting booth. Saw her tell 3 other voters the same thing. Poll worker said it was a new rule. It was the worker who set the machines. Says that if had infant or toddler would not have been able to vote. Concerned about other voters.

045665

11/02/04, 3:28 PM PST

Other

West Columbia, Lexington County, South Carolina

Other employees were given time off to vote, but this was denied to caller, although requests were made at same time.

046488

11/02/04, 3:57 PM PST

Voter Intimidation

Lakeview Elementary School 1218 Bachelors Street Columbia, SC, Columbia, Lexington County, South Carolina

Voter's name appears on voter list with current address. Was incorrectly told that she needed and envelope addressed to her in addition to driver's license. After a prior call to the Election Protection Line, she returned to the poll, but was threatened by a government official. She was ultimately allowed to vote

049994

11/02/04, 6:21 PM PST

Registration-related problem

Pine Lakes, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina

Showed up without registration card. Was informed she couldn't vote because they did not have the correct birthdate. She then filed a provisional ballot, returned home and is calling to report that she found her registration card and it matched her correct birth date. Also reported party challengers (from out of state) at black colleges (Benedict, Morris)

050060

11/02/04, 6:26 PM PST

Voter Intimidation; Identification-related problem

Swinton Center, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina

Women witnessed many students from all African-American colleges being denied the right to vote who didn't have their voter registration cards but did have college ID cards, even though these students names did appear on the voters rolls at the precinct

051912

11/03/04, 3:05 PM PST

Long lines

Gaston, Lexington County, South Carolina

Her polling location changed and when she went to new location there was a very long line (approx. 2 hours) so will likely not vote

052092

11/03/04, 6:11 PM PST

Long lines

Chapin High School, Chapin, Lexington County, South Carolina

Called to suggest a better name split than A-I and J-Z because line is way too long for latter.

052112

11/03/04, 6:33 PM PST

Long lines

Telion, Lexington County, South Carolina

Long lines. Unable to wait

 

Registration problems/identification problems/provisional ballot problems

043333

11/02/04, 2:00 PM PST

Registration-related problem

Lexington, Lexingtotn County, South Carolina

Thought I had registered with DMV, in April 2002 in SC. On 10/3 found out I was not on registration rolls in SC.

043314

11/02/04, 2:01 PM PST

Registration-related problem

Gaston, Lexington County County, South Carolina

Moved from one county to another. Did re-register through DMV. Didn't show up on rolls at polling place

043145

11/02/04, 1:55 PM PST

Identification-related problem

Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina

Went to polling place. Had voter reg. card, military ID. Did a paper vote, allowed to vote for district and local elections. Not president. Thinks it was a provisional ballot.

043760

11/02/04, 2:17 PM PST

Registration-related problem

Columbia, Richland County County, South Carolina

Realized that registration rolls and his voter registration had misspelled his name. Was turned away from polls and told he could not vote even though  he has 10 years in the same place. [P]

052084

11/03/04, 6:01 PM PST

Registration-related problem

Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina

Voter registration has old address on it, has been in new address for 10 years. Voted in last presidential election

052862

11/04/04, 3:25 PM PST

Registration-related problem

Richland County, South Carolina

 Thought might be signed up through DMV.

 

11/05/04, 8:55 AM PST

Registration-related problem; Provisional ballot problem

West Columbia, Lexington County, South Carolina

No registration card received by voter. Polling official initially refused to let voter vote either by normal means or by provisional ballot. Voter offered ID.

053605

11/05/04, 1:26 PM PST

Registration-related problem

Colombia, Richland County, South Carolina

Waited on line for two hours; then told to call this number; said she wasn't registered

052135

11/03/04, 7:02 PM PST

Registration-related problem

Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina

Chairman of voter registration says can't vote b/c not registered at school address. Been at school address for 4 years. Hasn't registered there.

 

Greenville County

 

Polling place problems

030769

11/02/04, 6:04 AM PST

Identification-related problem

Trinity Methodist Church, 2703 August Road, Greenville, S.C., Greenville, Greenville County, South Carolina

White poll worker was asking Blacks for multiple form of I.D. Fortunately, this Voter did have a second I.D. but some others were turned away.

034603

11/02/04, 8:45 AM PST

Voter Intimidation

Needmore Recreation Center, Greer, Greenville County, South Carolina

Voters being asked to provide multiple forms of identification. She personally observed a women with voter registration and driver's license being asked for a utility bill (not raced-based. Question asked of white and black voters).

034897

11/02/04, 8:54 AM PST

Disability access problem

Needmore Center, Greer, Greenville County, South Carolina

Two disabled people turned away from voting. One was half-blind and voter didn't know what other's disability was. Both had people with them to help.

036963

11/02/04, 10:09 AM PST

Polling place inquiry; Other

advent methodist church, simpsinville, greenville County, South Carolina

three minute time limit to vote; is this legal? didn't let children (very young) into voting booth with mother

045187

11/02/04, 3:09 PM PST

Other

Clear Creek, Greenville Tech, Greek Campus, Taylor, Greenville County, South Carolina

All Whites registered at Cler Creek, Greenville Tech and Blacks at St. Marks Baptist Church, within 1 minute of each other. Co-workers who are Black told her they are to vote at St. Marks

049599

11/02/04, 5:56 PM PST

Voter Intimidation; Machine problem