OHIO: Shared machines at adjoining precincts caused voter problems

[sled]

Shared machines at adjoining precincts caused voter problems

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?Category=13&ID=197051&r=5

Friday, December 10, 2004

CLEVELAND (AP) — Voters using the wrong machines in adjoining
precincts at the same location apparently caused voting aberrations in
17 of 1,458 Cuyahoga County precincts, The Plain Dealer reported
Friday.

The paper said its review of voting patterns countywide in Cleveland
and its suburbs showed aberrations including a Democratic precinct in
which Democrat John Kerry got 334 votes and Libertarian Michael
Badnarik got 164. In the adjacent precinct, also at Benedictine High
School, Kerry got 299 votes and Constitution Party candidate Michael
Peroutka got 215 votes.

(SNIP)

The paper said unusual spurts in the Peroutka and Badnarik totals
apparently resulted from people in one precinct casting ballots just
steps away at machines meant for another precinct. The rotating
positions of candidate names on ballots meant people going to the
adjoining precinct had their votes counted for another candidate, the
paper said.

There was no way to tell whether Kerry’s or President Bush’s totals
were affected, the paper said. Kerry beat Bush 448,486 votes to
221,606 votes countywide, but lost Ohio by about 119,000 votes out of
5.6 million cast.

(SNIP)

CONTACT INFO: [e-mail]

[liberal N proud]

1. Happened at the polling location I was watching also

There were two school districts in one precinct using the punch cards and they would swap out the "frame" depending on who voted. Backed up lines early. I think later on they just didn't even ask what precinct they were from which would make those votes invalid.

[mulethree]

5. Awesome a first hand account

We have 4 or 5 DUers who are looking at this stuff, but a lot of speculation since theres been no first-hand knowledge.

Which polling place were you at?

When you say two school districts in one precinct, and later you say they stopped asking what precinct voters were from. Do you mean there were two precincts (school districts) in the same room (polling place) sharing voting machines?


We've been wondering if the ballots are corrupt - which they would be if the machine was set up for the wrong precinct when the ballot was punched.

Or, Were they punched correctly and just mixed up later, in which case the piles of ballots could be gone through by hand to seperate the mixed up precinct ballots.

Any further first hand testimony would be greatly appreciated! There are a dozen local issue votes that are probably invalid and a jusge race which could be wrong.

Thanks!

[IndyOp]

2. Join us on the other thread discussing the same article --

Let's go here:

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=136655#136676>

:kick:

[The Judged]

3. That might be enough votes in that county alone to eradicate Wll

[Supersedeas]

4. when will the US Media see these trivialities as a pattern.