Poll Rage? Man Breaks Machines At Polling Location

[Algorem]

( Pretty,new Diebold machines too.

The humanity.

This station's noon news was reporting lots and lots of voting machine problems at Cleveland-area polls.New Diebolds everywhere far as I know.People didn't show up to set up machines,missing candidate names and issues,lonnnng waits....)


http://www.newsnet5.com/politics/9146477/detail.html
POSTED: 11:56 am EDT May 2, 2006

CLEVELAND -- A 61-year-old man was arrested after an alleged poll rage incident.

The man was arrested after breaking voting machines. He faces disorderly conduct, obstructing official business and resisting arrest charges.

It took several people to restrain the man.

It's unclear what caused the man to become upset.




http://www.newsnet5.com/index.html

http://www.newsnet5.com/news /



Voters Given Ballots To Fill Out By Hand When Machines Fail

http://www.newsnet5.com/politics/9144311/detail.html

UPDATED: 12:03 pm EDT May 2, 2006

SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio -- There have been some problems at polling locations throughout Cuyahoga County, NewsChannel5 reported.

Because of some confusion at the polling locations, citizens are being given ballots to fill out by hand, said Micheal Vu, director of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.


At about 6:45 a.m. at Woodberry Elementary School in Shaker Heights, a resident left the polling location after growing extremely frustrated about the process.


Polling sites in all 88 Ohio counties were using either touch-screen electronic machines or ones that electronically scan ballots that voters have marked, eliminating punch-card ballots. Half the counties had their first election with the new machines in November. The rest got up and running in Tuesday's primary election...




Candidate Requests Extension For Voting Hours

http://www.newsnet5.com/politics/9145131/detail.html

POSTED: 9:15 am EDT May 2, 2006

CLEVELAND -- Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bryan Flannery is requesting that today’s voting hours be extended to 8:15 p.m. because of reports that voters are being turned away at polling locations in Cuyahoga and Summit counties.

---------------------------------------------------
SURVEY

Should hours at polling locations be extended?
Yes
No

---------------------------------------------------

"Voters of this state deserve every opportunity to cast their ballots," Flannery said. "Turning away voters because of defective machines or inexperienced poll workers is inexcusable. We must do everything possible to ensure fair, safe and honest elections. Extending poll hours and giving those turned away this morning an additional opportunity to cast their ballot is the right thing to do."

NewsChannel5 and newsnet5 will have an update if the voting hours will be extended.

Check back often for updates.

[aquart]

1. His ballot kept saying George W. Bush?

[Tight_rope]

48. That's exactly what I was thinking.

The guy probably voted a straight democatic ticket and George W. Bush kept showing up. Wouldn't be the first time this happened. Happened here in Houston during the 2004 elections as well as Austin, Texas. Bush country.

[queenbdem87]

2. I can see it now!

"I kept trying to vote for Strickland in the primary, but it kept putting up Bush's name instead."

[KansDem]

3. Don't you just love these Corporate Media "What the...?" moments!

It's unclear what caused the man to become upset.



Hey, CM whores, did you ever think about asking the man or the witnesses? Did you ever think they might give you an idea why the man was doing this? I doubt if he said something like "Oh, I think I'll go into a rage and break this machine...for no reason at all!"

Do you think he wasn't having his vote recorded correctly? Did you even think to check into this in the wake of 2000, 2002, and 2004?

Maybe if you spent more time doing your jobs and less time trying to look good in your underwear, you'd have the answers! Savvy?!

[Kenergy]

5. I agree. Journalists today don't ask even the most obvious questions n/t

[flyarm]

4. k& r ..this is too important ..lets get on greatest page!! i sent out

to all dems dec chairs etc in my county fla...

get this info out there please..everyone please k&r and send to your dec dnc chairpeople where you live!!

thanks for posting!!

fly

[Zorra]

6. Sounds like a patriot to me. n/t

[OhioChick]

7. K&R

[jean]

8. kick for the 61 yr old man

:kick:

[htuttle]

9. That would be the 'Molly Hatchet' approach to voting reform?

[Richard Steele]

14. Do you mean "Carrie Nation" ?

Just asking because I have gotten the two names confused a time or two.

[htuttle]

15. I thought they had similar claims to fame

..and had similar "techniques"...

(after searching)

Though now I'm a bit confused as well, since I find references to Molly Hatchet as both an axe wielding prohibitionist, and a Southern prostitute who cut up her clients.

Well, you get the idea, anyway...

[Richard Steele]

17. I personally prefer a more clear-cut "Boston Tea Party" metaphor...

But as you say, we all "get" the idea any way it is expressed,
so it's all good.

:)

[oneold1-4u]

10. Oregon rage is long gone

We received our ballots before May 1st and they are due for the primary on the 16th or earlier at one's convenience! They can be mailed in or deposited in boxes at convenient secure location in the communities locally. If ballot is lost or errors made, a new ballot may be requested. This has been working well for OR for a number of years with little question of validity.
Thank all the "powers that be" we don't need Diabold or any crooked, broken, cheating machines!
There still may be a few good Republicans and about the same number of bad Democrats but the word republican, today, brings a cesspool of vivid, ugly, memories of the past 6 years, and a few back beyond that. Perhaps that label, like a few other party names should just be lost to the past!
I rather like "INDEPENDENT"! They could start out clean and stay clean without their popularity depending on a million favors and a billion dollars!

[Algorem]

11. Cuyahoga county just decided won't count absentee ballots by machine

Too many Dem votes that way?

http://www.cleveland.com/newslogs/plaindealer/index.ssf?/mtlogs/cleve_plaindealer/archives/2006_05.html

12:06 p.m.

The Cuyahoga County Board of Election is expected to hand count absentee ballots today because of inconsistencies in trial runs. Director Michael Vu plans to recommend a complete manual count. The board has gotten about 16,000 absentee ballots so far.

"We want these ballots to be counted accurately above all else. At this point, that means conducting a hand count," Vu said. It was unclear whether to blame the ballots or the counting devices. Vu hoped to run tests after the election to pin down the problem.

Meanwile, midway through Primary Day, voter turnout is light. Local voters said the machines were much easier to use than the old punch cards. The trouble was, many of the machines were out of order for hours at least, and several locations had to turn away voters for a while. Voters said they encountered other snags, too. In Shaker Heights, one woman said she noticed that her ballot didn't show the school tax measure. Poll workers had to start her over again with a new one.

(-The Plain Dealer seems to be trying to give the rosiest picture.Don't even mention Machine-Mashing Man.)




First election with new machines for half of state
5/2/2006, 12:06 p.m. ET

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/politics-1/114657415494860.xml&storylist=cleveland

By CONNIE MABIN
The Associated Press

CLEVELAND (AP) — A small number of people left a few Cleveland polling sites Tuesday without voting when tardy poll workers did not get new electronic voting machines set up for up to two hours. Minor problems adjusting to new machines were reported in other parts of the state.

Other voters who showed up when the touch-screen machines weren't ready in Cuyahoga County were eventually given ballots to fill out by hand, elections chief Michael Vu said.

Polling sites in all 88 Ohio counties were using either touch-screen electronic machines or ones that electronically scan ballots that voters have marked, eliminating punch-card ballots. Half the counties had their first election with the new machines in November. The rest got up and running in Tuesday's primary election.

Elsewhere in Ohio, election officials and voters reported what was expected: mostly minor problems with workers finding their way with the newer machines, or no problems at all...


New Diebold CEO to make up to $1.7 million
5/1/2006, 10:03 p.m. ET
The Associated Press

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/business-6/114653575430740.xml&storylist=cleveland

NORTH CANTON, Ohio (AP) — Voting-machine maker Diebold Inc. will pay its new chief executive up to $1.7 million annually,depending on how successfully their vote-stealing operation performs,the company said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Monday.

Thomas Swidarski will make a base salary of $550,000 with bonuses of up to 200 percent, according to the contract he reached with the company last week.

Swidarski is nearly five months into leading the company after serving as president and chief operating officer. He took over Dec. 12 for Walden W. O'Dell, Diebold's former chairman and CEO, who resigned suddenly from both posts.

One of Swidarski's early actions was to announce in January a plan to cut about $100 million in costs over three years and improve pricing. The savings would come through streamlining processes, improving the supply chain and adjusting manufacturing operations...




Extraordinary primary season finally reaches voters

5/2/2006, 12:12 p.m. ET

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/politics-1/114657296140490.xml&storylist=cleveland

By JULIE CARR SMYTH
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A bitter fight by Republican candidates seeking the scandal-embroiled party's nomination for governor dominated a state primary election season that culminated Tuesday, when voters also were picking nominees for other statewide offices, Congress and Legislature.

North Carolina and Indiana also were holding primaries Tuesday, but Ohio's role as the deciding state in the last presidential election makes it a closely watched barometer of voter sentiment.

It was the first major election since the state government-controlling Republican party has been beset by scandal. Politicians were watching for signs Tuesday of voter dissatisfaction that could signal shift in power is possible in the November election.

The day's drama was heightened by the fact that new voting machines, some of which have had problems during testing, were operating around the state. There was scattered trouble adjusting to the machines in the morning, including in the Cleveland area where a small number of people left without voting when a few polling places opened late because workers had trouble setting up touch-screen machines...

[eridani]

44. I wouldn't call hand-counting a problem

I'd call it a reason to jump for joy, provided the public gets to oversee the process.

[IndyOp]

12. Cleveland: GOP setting up to steal election from Dennis Kucinich

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2602412&mesg_id=2602433

[lovuian]

13. Ya know Ohio needs to allow their voters more time

and get rid of machines that don't work...

I don't blame the man who destroyed them...

[The Wielding Truth]

16. We could do like Rosa Parks and refuse to leave the voting poll

until we get paper proof of our vote.

[Vidar]

18. A true patriot--more power to him.

[anotherdrew]

19. incompetent republican leadership, typical to say the least

these republican assholes couldn't organize a piss-up in a beer hall. It's sad really, 'cause they all think they are so smart and so efficient and so capable. They've spent their entire lives winning a rigged game in crony businesses, and don't even know how to function in the real world. To hell with these people, if we want to save this country, job number ONE is getting rid of incompetent management mostly republican, but some dems too.

[mtnester]

20. Preview of November

and then again November 2008

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

[ourbluenation]

21. PEEPS - ABSENTEE VOTE ONLY!

Sorry for the shouting but it cannot be stated enough. tell all you r friends, and so on and so on and so on....

[uppityperson]

22. Send roses to that man.

"unclear why" is too funny.

[OKNancy]

23. kick

[MagickMuffin]

24. Man Breaks Machines At Polling Location

Rage Against the Machines....

CLEVELAND -- A 61-year-old man was arrested after an alleged poll rage incident, NewsChannel5 reported.
Officials said Marc A. Fenster was arrested after he knocked over two voting machines worth $2,700 each.
http://www.newsnet5.com/politics/9146477/detail.html

[Initech]

25. Wow, talk about literally raging against the machine...

:evilgrin:

Take that, Diebold!

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

26. Allow Me To Say THANK YOU!

Not sure why he did it, but on behalf on myself, I'd like to thank him for his "machine rage."

[asthmaticeog]

28. He also assaulted a teenage kid.

Thanks, dude... :eyes:

[Ammonium]

27. Me Smash!

Break'em all!

Viva the paper ballot!

[AngryOldDem]

29. Cool!

And here's to the guy: :toast:

Can we begin a collection for his defense fund?

[NanceGreggs]

32. My first thought, too!

Maybe we should set up a defence fund to bail out ANYONE who is willing to take out a Diebold machine before the next election!

Damage to actual machinery: $2,000 plus.
Ability to ensure democratic elections as a result: PRICELESS!!!!

[MercutioATC]

30. See, letting the mentally ill vote is a baaaaaad idea.

I'll give 2-1 odds to anybody that this is a mental health issue.

[MagickMuffin]

33. Well not knowing the circumstances

for his outrage, I will pass judgment on his motives.

There could be several things that triggered his rage, maybe he was voting a straight Dem ticket but it kept defaulting to Repub.

Hopefully more details will shed some light on his response.

[MercutioATC]

34. He also attacked a 17-year old...

...I'm still betting on mental illness.

[wiley]

35. Diebold Voting Machines Cause Mental Illness?

Rage against the Machine!

[ret5hd]

37. so, uhhhmmm...what's a 17 yr old doing at the polling place?

not that it is relevant to the right-or-wrong of attacking someone...just askin'.

[Codeine]

38. He was outside the polling station

Probably waiting on his parents.

[ret5hd]

39. makes sense. thnx.

[MercutioATC]

43. Dunno...a lot of polling places are schools...

maybe they were observing for a school project...maybe they were a voter's kid...maybe they were just hanging around outside the polling place. Who knows?

[Kire]

46. I dare you to start a thread about that in this forum

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=276

[xchrom]

31. or you could go in a polling station and do this

:woohoo:

you could claim it was a medical condition.

[NMMNG]

47. Of course

Because every time a person becomes angry it's due to mental illness. :eyes:

[Tiggeroshii]

36. There's going to be a lot more violence if this continues

...democracy won't allow this. If there's still one left that is.

[demo dutch]

40. Brad is soooo right, the entire country is at risk again !

[Blue_Tires]

41. you all ain't gonna blame Nader for THIS one!

:P :crazy:

[HockeyMom]

42. Funny experience with Lever Machines

This happened years ago. After I selected my choices, I went to pull the lever to record my ballots, and open the curtain. Nothing happened. The lever was stuck and the curtain didn't open. Ok, I was still young and new at voting. I did not want to leave without my ballots be counted, but did not know what to do, so I got down on my hands and knees and crawled out of the voting booth to get a pol worker.

Only goes to show, I will do anything to make sure my vote counts.

[SoCalDemGrrl]

45. Sounds like this will be our only resort come November...

we may have to destroy these machines in order to have an HONEST paper ballot!!!

I'm game.. anyone else ready??????