Summit County Ohio(machine problems, long lines, dirty tricks and misinformation/malfeasance in minority precincts cause
loss of vote for minority voters regarding absentee & provisional ballots)
Additional documentation at end of cases
Dirty Tricks
|
045670 |
|
Other polling place problem |
|
Given wrong information
about polling place. Got it in mail. She was sent to the right polling
place by an EP volunteer but she is not too happy she got sent this card with
the wrong polling information. OVPC 2 |
|
033708 |
|
Voter Intimidation |
|
Elly from the D.C. national hotline reported that
a voter called her from Barnerton in Summit County
to report that a flyer is being
circulated outside polling place ("C4") that says "if you have
outstanding traffic tickets and you vote, you may be arrested and lose your
children." OVPC8 |
|
015790 |
|
Voter Intimidation |
|
Voter calling on behalf of her
62-y-o mother who received a summons to appear before the Board of Elections
because her voter registration was being challenged based on the allegation that
she is not a resident where she is registered to vote. She has all the
paperwork together identified in the summons to bring with her (bills, ID,
etc.), but is wondering whether she needs legal counsel. She reported that
the media is reporting that 4 Republicans have challenged approximately 900
Democrats' voter registration. |
Machine Problems
|
040520 |
|
Machine problem |
Margaret Park Presbyterian Church (732 Russell), |
Voter reports hanging chads on every punch. This is occurring on a machine
that is one of the 3 "extra" voting machines brought in. O |
|
045905 |
|
Machine problem |
|
Ballots
are breaking off and clogging the machines. This was reported by workers outside
polls with the Kerry campaign. He said that several voters complained. OVPC
14 |
Confusing information regarding correct precinct
|
039152 |
|
Registration-related problem; Other polling place problem |
|
Voter was called in July/August and told to vote as |
|
049113 |
|
Provisional ballot problem |
Lauer Apartments, |
Voter was told that she
was not on the rolls. She was sent out to the wrong place and told to come
back. She came back a second time. Voter was crying and not allowed to do a
provisional ballot. OVPC5 |
|
041122 |
|
Polling place inquiry; Other polling place problem |
Margaret Park Presbyterian Church (732 Russell), |
Precint 2I pollers
told voter to go to previous poll (3M) instead of where he lives. OVPC2
OVPC14 |
|
039999 |
|
Registration-related problem; Provisional ballot problem; Other
polling place problem |
700 E Exchange Mason Park Shelter, DC, summit County, |
According to Josh, an Election Protection Observer told him that
between 10 and 20 electors had been
turned away from the poll because they were not on the list. These people siad that they were long-time voters at that polling
place. The poll workers were not advising the people that were turned
away with respect to provisional ballots or any remedial actions. The
Observer said that he has the names
and contact information for the people who were turned away. OVPC4 5 and
2. |
|
059148 |
|
Registration-related problem |
|
Went to 3 polling
locations. Refused provisional ballot. After Democratic challenge,
returned. Democratic representative called her to come back. |
|
059165 |
|
Other polling place problem |
Channelwood, |
Precinct is 3D but ...
came to ... 3F because he was told to by the Board of Elections. |
|
060196 |
|
Identification-related problem |
|
He's voted at same
place every year but this year not on list. POll workers
didnt tell him about provisional ballot. Poll
worker told him if he had fellony conviction in
past thats probably why he
wasnt on list when asked if that might be the
problem. |
|
060201 |
|
Registration-related problem |
|
Poll workers do not
have the "S" list and voters are being turned away. |
|
029897 |
|
Absentee-ballot related problem; Long lines |
|
Voter denied vote
because she had been sent an absentee ballot. Told she couldn't turn in
absentee there and couldn't get regular or provisional ballot. Long lines but empty
booths. OVPC5 OVPC10 |
Manipulation of voters and malfeasance regarding provisional ballots
|
018490 |
|
Registration-related problem |
|
Jennifer registered to
vote 1-2 months ago; never heard from |
|
029115 |
|
Absentee-ballot related problem; Provisional ballot problem |
|
Voter was not allowed
to vote by regular or provisional ballot because she had been sent an
absentee ballot. No place to sign-in because rolls said she had already voted.
OVPC5 |
|
029342 |
|
Provisional ballot problem |
Joy Park, |
Election office encouraged voter, who was on rolls, to vote
provisionally in order to avoid standing in long line. Voter complied. |
|
029524 |
|
Registration-related problem |
|
told she's not registered |
|
029897 |
|
Absentee-ballot related problem; Long lines |
|
Voter denied vote
because she had been sent an absentee ballot. Told she couldn't
turn in absentee there and couldn't get regular or provisional ballot. Long
lines but empty booths. OVPC5 OVPC10 |
|
029929 |
|
Registration-related problem |
West Minster Presbyterian Church, |
Voter moved between polling places since she last voted. She then received registration card in mail
directing her to this polling place, but her name not on list and she was
told she could not vote. She firmly insisted on casting a provisional
ballot. She filled out affidavit with poll monitor. She wishes to cast
regular ballot if possible. OVPC4 |
|
030166 |
|
Other |
Teamsters Local #24, 727 Grant Street, |
A voter showed up at the precinct where she used to live and
where she is still registered. However, she has since moved within |
|
030617 |
|
Identification-related problem; Long lines; Other polling place problem |
Beclcher apts., |
Asking vast majority of
voters for Identificaito and this is slowing the
process down for everyone and causing some to vote provisional who would not
have otherwise. Very hot temperature
inside is causing people to leave. OVPC 10 |
|
031580 |
|
Registration-related problem |
|
Didn't know which line
to get in (two precincts at same location). Told to call BOE because his name
didn't appear on the rolls. Voter had
voter registration card, although poll workers did not ask him about card or
help him. Not offered a provisional ballot. OVPC4 |
|
031714 |
|
Provisional ballot problem; Polling place inquiry |
|
Voter "forced"
to cast provisional ballot b/c name not on list at polling place where he has
voted for the past 16 years; he has not moved recently...no known reason
why his name was missing...girlfriend, who resides at same address,
experienced same problem |
|
031976 |
|
Identification-related problem |
Cherry Turner Towers |
Voter went to vote and had registration postcard that had her
identification. The postcard misspelled last name by one letter. They told
her that since they couldn't find her in the book, that there was a problem
with identification so they made her do a provisional ballot. She didn't
bring an I.D. because she had registration card. Her name was in the
registration list under another spelling. |
|
032632 |
|
Registration-related problem |
|
Voter registered at
Firestone Park Library on |
|
034070 |
|
Provisional ballot problem |
Joy Park, |
Election official told voter she did not have to wait in line if
she voted provisionally. Voter was already registered and on the rolls. |
|
036343 |
|
Provisional ballot problem |
Coventry Church Barberton, summit County, |
Voter challenged by
challenger. As a result, given a provisional ballot. Told him he had to
vote a provisional ballot because he didn't vote in the primaries. He was
registered. Did Presiding Judge question him? Dont
know. Got information through Kerry campaign, Peter Norman. |
|
037270 |
|
Registration-related problem |
|
Voter was registered,
had voter card, but name was not on list. Was forced to cast provisional ballot. |
|
038121 |
|
Registration-related problem |
Margaret Park Presbyterian Church (732 Russell), |
Voter's name was not on the list at the poll. Board of Elections
should have changed it from the last election when they let her vote at the
current location. OVPC4 |
|
039999 |
|
Registration-related problem; Provisional ballot problem; Other
polling place problem |
700 E Exchange Mason Park Shelter, DC, summit County, |
According to Josh, an Election Protection Observer told him that
between 10 and 20 electors had been turned away from the poll because they
were not on the list. These people siad that they
were long-time voters at that polling place. The poll workers were not
advising the people that were turned away with respect to provisional ballots
or any remedial actions. The Observer said that he has the names and contact
information for the people who were turned away. OVPC4 5 and 2. |
|
040795 |
|
Registration-related problem |
|
voter who has voted at this location for 16
years was told he was not on the registration list. he
demanded and received a provisional ballot. he also
related that his girlfriend who lives at the same address underwent the same
treatment. (she also voted provisionally) Howebver,
it was later determined at the legal center through checking the website of
the county board of elections that both voters were valid registered voters.
NOTE: this reporter is aware of two other similar incidents involving black
voters. but their registration status has not yet
been confirmed. |
|
041867 |
|
Provisional ballot problem |
Russell 732 (at Hillcrest), |
Asked to cast provisional ballot, but he refused to do so. Lives
in same precinct. but moved to another street.No change of address forms. |
|
042105 |
|
Registration-related problem; Provisional ballot problem |
|
Voter's name was not on
rolls, though he has lived in and voted at same location for 35 years, and wife was a former
pollworker. Other pollworkers
recognized him, he provided social security number, and was allowed to vote
provisionally. Voter said he heard that 4 other persons had same thing happen
to them earlier; he was uncertain whether those voted provisionally. |
|
043677 |
|
Registration-related problem |
285 Channelwood circle James Williams Apts, |
Name not on list. told him he was not
registered to vote there. |
|
044073 |
|
Provisional ballot problem |
|
Voter is registered and on rolls for precinct where appearing to
vote but has moved one street over. Poll workers are asking that he vote
provisional and he does not want to. They tell him they don't have a change
of address form so he should go to the |
|
044142 |
|
Registration-related problem |
|
Voter registered at |
|
044193 |
|
Registration-related problem |
285 Channelwood circle James Williams Apts, |
Name not on list. told him he was not
registered to vote there. |
|
044509 |
|
Registration-related problem |
|
Voter registered but
was not listed and had to use a provisional ballot. OVPC4 |
|
044547 |
|
Absentee-ballot related problem; Provisional ballot problem |
|
Caller reports that her boyfriend, who is in the military and
had been overseas earlier this year, went
to vote at his precinct and was told that he had already voted. Caller is
not sure whether he had ever requested an absentee ballot, but thinks this
might have been possible but that her boyfriend had not filled out that
ballot or any other. OVPC5 |
|
044644 |
|
Registration-related problem |
|
Voter moved, not on rolls. |
|
046068 |
|
Long lines; Other polling place problem |
|
Poll workers giving
"misinformation". A woman went to 3 different lines before getting
the right one. She waited 1 hour and 20 minutes. There was some question if
the one giving information worked there. First the voter was told to do a
provisional ballot. When she changed lines, she was permitted to vote.
Several complaints made. OVPC10 OVPC2 |
|
047718 |
|
Registration-related problem |
Teamster's Local 24 ( |
Voter moved and had not changed addresses. She was told to vote
provisionally--but didn't. She was told to go to the Board of Elections and
change addresses, then go to the new poll and vote
there (probably provisionally). OVPC4 |
|
047933 |
|
Registration-related problem; Voter Intimidation |
Lauer Apartments, |
Voter felt that worker was rude. The voter was turned away and
told to go to the Board of Election. She was told to ask for a provisional
ballot. OVPC4 OVPC7,8 |
|
048897 |
|
Absentee-ballot related problem |
Mt |
Two voters who were sent
absentee ballots were not allowed to vote when the went
to their polling places. Information came from the poll workers after they
consulted with the Board of Elections. The presiding judge was tod not to do provisional ballots and tell them to go.
OVPC14 |
|
048964 |
|
Registration-related problem |
|
Has current voter
registration and has not moved; went to normal voting place; voted in the
last election - uwas informed his name wasn't on
the rolls. He cast a provisional ballot - but was very upset htat he wasn't listed. |
|
049520 |
|
Other polling place problem |
|
Voter went to Arlington Church of God and was told that she must
go to Buchtel HS. She went and was told to go back
to |
|
049642 |
|
Provisional ballot problem |
|
A couple has been
registered to vote in precinct 4J for many years and vote in every election.
They were not on the rolls and had to cast provisional ballots. (See Glenda Rhoden) OVPC5 |
|
050897 |
|
Provisional ballot problem |
|
Voters are being told
that they have to go to the Board of Elections to vote by provisional ballot.
|
|
050925 |
|
Registration-related problem; Other ballot-related problem |
Uniontown, |
Mrs. Henry and husband showed up; told names not on list; voted
in last election and have not moved; had to vote by provisional ballot. |
|
051028 |
|
Registration-related problem; Polling place inquiry |
|
Caller is a first-time voter. Registered to vote as a part of a
registration drive by a group. Has not received any regisration
material and does not know his polling place. He does have a neighbor who is
a registered voter. |
|
051096 |
|
Registration-related problem |
|
Caller moved within the same county and did not register at new
address. |
|
051257 |
|
Registration-related problem |
|
Moved. Changed address and did not receive new registration card. |
|
052532 |
|
Provisional ballot problem |
|
Official called for voter in |
|
052695 |
|
Absentee-ballot related problem |
|
Cast an absentee ballot concerned wanted to make sure it
was/will be counted. |
|
053581 |
|
Registration-related problem |
|
Called |
|
053806 |
|
Other |
|
Change of address within the same county; also changed name. Was
told her registration was very old (1994) and that she is not registered. |
|
059128 |
|
Other polling place problem |
|
A Voter Affidavit: "I voted (provisional) at the polling
place on |
|
059148 |
|
Registration-related problem |
|
Went to 3 polling locations. Refused provisional ballot. After
Democratic challenge, returned. Democratic representative called her to come
back. |
|
060196 |
|
Identification-related problem |
|
He's voted at same place every year but this year not on list. POll workers didnt tell him
about provisional ballot. Poll worker told him if he had fellony
conviction in past thats
probably why he wasnt on list when asked if that
might be the problem. |
|
060203 |
|
Provisional ballot problem |
|
According to the Democratic challenger, election officials were
giving provisional ballots to people not on the rolls without checking if
they were in the right polling place. The problem was not noticed unitl late in the day. EP was told about this after
voting was over. |
|
060212 |
|
Registration-related problem |
Rankin Elementary, |
Voters name was not on the rolls, neither was the voter's
daughter's name, even though they both voted at this location in 2000. |
|
060213 |
|
Absentee-ballot related problem |
Rankin Elementary, |
Voter did not request an absentee ballot but was sent it anyone.
She did not mail it in because she heard they were being destroyed. At the
polling place she was told she could not vote. |
|
060216 |
|
Registration-related problem; Provisional ballot problem |
|
Even though voter was registerd and
had a voter registration card, name was not on the list for 4B and voter had
to vote via provisional ballot |
|
060217 |
|
Registration-related problem |
|
Woman changed from maiden to married name; was not listed under
either name. |
|
060223 |
|
Long lines; Other polling place problem |
|
Voter very concerned about provisional ballot. Pages of 'S'
sheet are missing in 4-D. |
|
060205 |
|
Registration-related problem |
Voters name is not on rolls. He has voter ID that allows him to vote
in |
Long lines
|
031426 |
11/02/04, 6:33 AM PST |
Long lines |
Rankin Elementary School, Akron, Summit County, Ohio |
Two precincts are at the same location and the lines for each
have not been identified for voters. The lines are 50-75 feet / 30-40 minute
wait. Voters in the wrong line have been told to go to the end of the other
line once reaching the table. People are leaving as a result. OVPC10 |
|
|
032185 |
11/02/04, 7:02 AM PST |
Long lines; Other polling place problem |
Saferstein Towers, Akron, Summit
County, Ohio |
Very long lines (up to 2 hours) and confusion about 2
precincts in one location. People do not know which line to be in and many
are waiting in the wrong line. Additional problem is that one of the poll
workers is borderline illiterate. OVPC10 OVPC2 |
|
|
028275 |
11/02/04, 4:00 AM PST |
Late opening |
4 I 4 D, summit County, Ohio |
40 people in line poll not open at 6:36 |
|
|
030617 |
11/02/04, 7:15 AM PST |
Identification-related problem; Long lines; Other polling place
problem |
Beclcher apts., 400 Locust St., Unointown, summit County, Ohio |
Asking vast majority of
voters for Identification and this is slowing the process down for everyone
and causing some to vote provisional who would not have otherwise. Very hot
temperature inside is causing people to leave. OVPC 10 |
|
|
030800 |
11/02/04, 6:16 AM PST |
Machine problem; Long lines |
Lauer Apartments, Akron, Summit County, Ohio |
Poll monitor called to
say lines are very slow and at the same time, not all booths being used. Four
voters left saying lines too long, they would return. Also, a man keeps
appearing from the building and is "watching the poll monitors like a
hawk." OVPC10 |
|
|
034197 |
11/02/04, 8:29 AM PST |
Long lines |
Mt Lebanon Baptist Church, Akron, Summit County, Ohio |
Lines
over an hour long. Poll worker is extremely slow in signing people in and is
using only 2 of 8 booths. Poll workers will not work with EP volunteers or
speed process. Poll worker is writing down separate list of all the voters,
which increases the wait for voters. OVPC10 |
|
|
049365 |
11/02/04, 5:48 PM PST |
Disability access problem |
Margaret Park Church, Akron, Summit County, Ohio |
Mobility impaired are required to wait in line for have a
surrogate wait in line unti the voter's turn to
cast a ballot. Once the turn comes up the moble
machine is taken to the person's car. However, at least one time, a church
member mobility impaired person was given preferential immediate service.
OVPC9 |
|
|
052732 |
11/04/04, 1:59 PM PST |
Long lines |
Innis High School, Summit County, Ohio |
Three districts voting in the same high school gym. her district had a line that stretched out the door. Some
voters left due to delay. Another neighboring district had short or normal
lines. Seemed very unfair and unreasonable to have one districts voters face
a large line while there were idle machines and almost non-existant line in the same room. |
|
|
060206 |
12/07/04, 8:43 AM PST |
Machine problem |
Erie Island Elementary School, Akron, Summit County, Ohio |
Both machines out of order |
|
|
059167 |
11/30/04, 1:07 PM PST |
Late opening |
Erie Island, Akron, Summit County, Ohio |
EP Poll monitor reported late poll opening |
|
|
028787 |
11/02/04, 4:17 AM PST |
Late opening |
Teamsters Local #24, 727 Grant St, Stowe, summit County, Ohio |
Long Line of 100 people and poll did not open until 6:37am |
|
|
060207 |
12/07/04, 8:50 AM PST |
Registration-related problem |
Akron, Summit County, Ohio |
Voter was told to use a provisional ballot. He has moved within
the same precinct, but has voted within this precinct for 5 years. |
|
|
060208 |
|
Disability access problem |
|
Polling officials refused to take a voting machine outside to a
van in which tow disabled voters, one wheelchair-bound were waiting. |
|
|
060209 |
|
Registration-related problem |
|
Not on list, sheets missing |
|
|
060211 |
|
Long lines; Other |
|
All morning the polls have ahd waits
of 45 min - 1 hr. and this is discouraging some people from voting |
|
|
029744 |
|
Long lines |
|
Rankin Elementary--the list stating which polling table voters
should line up in front of is not posted at the front of the polling
stations. This is creating long lines. An attorney has been unable to contact
the judges (too busy). She would like the judges to post the list in a more
visible location and she believes we should call the Board of Elections to
effectuate this. OVPC10. |
|
|
Absentee Ballot Problems
|
|
013532 |
|
Absentee-ballot related problem |
|
Grant is calling for a voter who wants to know if he has
requested an absentee ballot, is he then prohibited from voting at the polls.
|
|
|
018490 |
|
Registration-related problem |
|
Jennifer registered to vote 1-2 months ago; never heard from |
|
|
019108 |
|
Absentee-ballot related problem |
Cayahoga Falls, |
Her sister in |
|
|
024672 |
|
Other |
|
Requested an absentee ballot for her mother who is in a nursing
home. Asked that ballot be held until family members could come and give
assistance. Representative came in and gave residents ballots without any
assistance |
|
|
029115 |
|
Absentee-ballot related problem; Provisional ballot problem |
|
Voter was not allowed to vote by regular or provisional ballot
because she had been sent an absentee ballot. No place to sign-in because
rolls said she had already voted. OVPC5 |
|
|
029897 |
|
Absentee-ballot related problem; Long lines |
|
Voter denied vote because she had been sent an absentee ballot.
Told she couldn't turn in absentee there and couldn't get regular or
provisional ballot. Long lines but empty booths. OVPC5 OVPC10 |
|
|
040100 |
|
Absentee-ballot related problem |
|
Voter applied for and received an absentee ballot but decided
not to use it when she received her voting card and polling place in the
mail. When the voter came to vote today, she was told that they received her
absentee ballot and that she couldn't vote at the precinct. Voter states that
she never sent the ballot in. OVPC14 |
|
|
044547 |
|
Absentee-ballot related problem; Provisional ballot problem |
|
Caller reports that her boyfriend, who is in the military and
had been overseas earlier this year, went to vote at his precinct and was
told that he had already voted. Caller is not sure whether he had ever
requested an absentee ballot, but thinks this might have been possible but
that her boyfriend had not filled out that ballot or any other. OVPC5 |
|
|
048897 |
|
Absentee-ballot related problem |
Mt |
Two voters who were sent absentee ballots were not allowed to
vote when the went to their polling places.
Information came from the poll workers after they consulted with the Board of
Elections. The presiding judge was tod not to do
provisional ballots and tell them to go. OVPC14 |
|
|
050669 |
|
Absentee-ballot related problem |
|
Voter made multiple efforts to comply with procedures for
requesting absentee ballot, but never received one. |
|
|
052552 |
|
Absentee-ballot related problem |
summit County, |
caller requested absentee ballot twice to vote
in |
|
|
052695 |
|
Absentee-ballot related problem |
|
Cast an absentee ballot concerned wanted to make sure it
was/will be counted. |
|
|
060213 |
|
Absentee-ballot related problem |
Rankin Elementary, |
Voter did not request an absentee ballot but was sent it anyone.
She did not mail it in because she heard they were being destroyed. At the
polling place she was told she could not vote. |
http://www.votersunite.org/article.asp?id=4196
http://www.votersunite.org/article.asp?id=4207
Observations of observer at
"[The Summit County Deputy Director] was as
antagonistic as he could be, as though his job was to make the day as difficult
as possible; he asked us to stand away from the tables so we took a position at
the end of the table. He drew a line on the floor with tape even though the
volunteers were behind it the whole time. He even threatened to throw me out
because he said I was too close..."
Another observer commented that one of the workers was
shielding her count from the observers in what could be perceived as deliberate.
"Team #7, Bernie, kept the ballots hidden by holding her contrast (yellow)
sheet over them so I couldn't see the holes. She held the yellow sheet in
her left hand and as she moved one ballot from in front of her with her right
and into the line of sight, she covered it with the yellow sheet...."
"I was also threatened with removal from the
premises if my lips moved, the deputy director was very determined that there
was not to be a single whisper in the room from anyone..."
"When there was a discrepancy, it was nearly
impossible to hear what the line supervisor determined the ballot should be
counted as since voices were kept to a minimum by the employees and we were not
allowed to lean in to hear what the discrepancy was. This happened
a number of times throughout the recount process."
I requested the
opportunity to review the rejected provisional and absentee ballots and was
denied that request. I also requested that we view the signature books
that corresponded to the ballots being hand counted, and again the request was
denied. I did have a conversation later in the day with the director,
Bryan Williams, and was told that the BOE was unable to accommodate our request
today, and they would be happy to allow us to view these materials over the next
few days.
The machine tally for
the rest of the ballots in
We did receive the provisional ballot
report; though I have no access to how to contact these folks. There is no
problem receiving a voter database from the county, however, they withold phone numbers, so I will determine tomorrow how we
want to proceed in contacting provisional rejected votes. Many of the provisional
votes were accepted in
Uncounted Votes in