Officials say votes on 'private' voting machine in Jefferson Parish will count

[bathroommonkey76]

Source: WWL-TV

JEFFERSON PARISH, La. - When Eyewitness News first broke the story about a 'private' voting machine found in the Registrar of Voters, Dennis DiMarco's conference room, the public sounded off.

That included WWL-TV Political Analyst, Clancy DuBos.

"This is one that hits home for my family," he said. "My mother is 90 years old. Today I was supposed to take her to vote because she gets around on a walker. She called me this morning and said, 'Don't take me to vote today, the lines are too long.' If there were two more voting machines for the public, the wait wouldn't have been so long. Not just today but every day."


DiMarco told Eyewitness News in an earlier report, the machine was "... a convenience for those whose time is, for lack of a better word, maybe more valuable than others."

"This is insulting to the voters of Jefferson Parish," said DuBos. "I think the Feds ought to investigate. I think there are potential state and federal violations there. These machines are to be used by the public and state law specifically states, these machines have to be available and in public the entire time. There's no provision in the law for a VIP voting booth."

The machine has been seized and an investigation is underway. Thursday night, the press office for Louisiana's Secretary of State's Office said all votes that were cast on the machine will count. However, people are outraged over this entire incident.




Read more: http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/secretary-of-states-office-says-votes-on-private-voting-machine-in-jefferson-parish-will-count/343445386

[Stonepounder]

1. I have lived in several states since I became of voting age.

Ohio, California, Arizona, Texas, California (again), Kentucky (again), Missouri, Kentucky (yet again). I don't think I have missed a single election in 40 years of voting. I have rarely had to wait more than 10-15 minutes to vote and usually less than 5 minutes.

Long lines at polling places is voter suppression, pure and simple. Voting is the most important thing that we, as citizens, can do to get the kind of government we want (at least theoretically). Election day is not a holiday, so many people have to try and vote before work, on their lunch hour, or after work. When the lines are 1, 2, 3, 4+ hours long, then the people in charge of the election have made a conscious decision to try and discourage citizens in certain precincts from voting. This is intolerable and the DOJ needs to investigate.

I can't cast judgement on the above without knowing the person involved. Was he trying to play favorite, or was he genuinely trying to make special accommodation for voters who have difficulty standing in line?

Voting lines should not look like the lines at a California DMV!

[bathroommonkey76]

2. We had to stand in line for 3 hours

in Wake County, NC to cast our votes. All along we knew the NCGOP were smiling b/c of their voter suppression efforts throughout this state.

[Divine Discontent]

4. yes, when people vote in the GOP, they have to remember what they're doing to themselves

which includes long lines for MOST people...

[Retrograde]

6. Hey, don't dis the DMV!

Last December it took me a grand total of 8 minutes for my licence renewal - including eye test and photo! (hint: make a reservation ahead of time and you're in and out in next to no time)

As for voting - more states should follow the California lead: vote early at the county registrar's office, or sign up as a permanent mail voter, or vote the old-fashioned way in person on election day. Something for everybody.

[Stonepounder]

7. Sorry, Retrograde

I moved out of California a while ago. Back then the DMV was simply awful. They didn't accept appointments, you had to stand in line to find out what line you needed to wait in. They you got handed a form to fill out, then go stand in another line to turn the form in. It was not uncommon to spend 2-3 hours at the DMV to renew your license. Sounds like things have changed for the better.

[Divine Discontent]

3. leave it to the morons to screw up what should have been an easy decision!

You put that voting booth in use, and you simply take any person who the registrar feels needs to get back to work (a surgeon, a fireman, a county commissioner) for the people, into the voting area directly and let them vote. The right thing can be said to alleviate any complaining about taking someone in to bypass the line.

[keithbvadu2]

5. All of the important people voting there actually live in that district?