Bad for Webb??

[Flabbergasted]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/23/AR2006102301178_pf.html

Some Voting Machines Chop Off Candidates' Names
Computer Glitch Affects Voters in 3 Jurisdictions; Error Cannot Be Fixed by Nov. 7

By Leef Smith
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 24, 2006; B04



U.S. Senate candidate James Webb's last name has been cut off on part of the electronic ballot used by voters in Alexandria, Falls Church and Charlottesville because of a computer glitch that also affects other candidates with long names, city officials said yesterday.

Although the problem creates some voter confusion, it will not cause votes to be cast incorrectly, election officials emphasized. The error shows up only on the summary page, where voters are asked to review their selections before hitting the button to cast their votes. Webb's full name appears on the page where voters choose for whom to vote.

Election officials attribute the mistake to an increase in the type size on the ballot. Although the larger type is easier to read, it also unintentionally shortens the longer names on the summary page of the ballot.

Thus, Democratic candidate Webb will appear with his first name and nickname only -- or "James H. 'Jim' " -- on summary pages in Alexandria, Falls Church and Charlottesville, the only jurisdictions in Virginia that use balloting machines manufactured by Hart InterCivic of Austin.

"We're not happy about it," Webb spokeswoman Kristian Denny Todd said last night, adding that the campaign learned about the problem a week ago and has since been in touch with state election officials. "I don't think it can be remedied by Election Day. Obviously, that's a concern."

[Pab Sungenis]

1. Look away, citizen, nothing to see here.

Oh, look! Over there! Up in that tree! TERRA!

[AtomicKitten]

2. This was not an accident

but yet another GOP maneuver to disenfranchise Dem voters.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

3. Shortens "longer names" like James Webb, eh? I'd expect Falls Church,

Alexandria and Charlottesville to be among Webb's stronger areas of support.

This pisses me off.

[rzemanfl]

4. Saw the same thing today when I voted for a judicial candidate,

part of her last name was cut off on the review screen.

[woldnewton]

5. Who's...

the secretary of state in VA? And more importantly, which party...............?

[woldnewton]

7. OK, it's Katherine Hanley...

and it's an appointed position. Someone should have told her about it...

[lonehalf]

10. Virginia doesn't have a Secretary of State.

The have a Secretary of Commonwealth though.

She was appointed by the Democrat Tim Kaine.

I don't know her party affiliation.

[Daylin Byak]

11. She's a Democrat

[williesgirl]

6. Alexandria and Falls Church shouldn't hurt us, too educated & informed - maybe same

for Charlottsville due to UVA proximity. Would have killed us in the rural areas and central/southern VA. Definitely intentional - why they had to add "Jim" to his formal name is beyond me.

Since when can't computers be reprogrammed easily? recommended

[Evergreen Emerald]

8. webb's name is shorter than Allen's...how can they get away with this?

And why couldn't it have been fixed by election day? This has been going on for a number of weeks. James H Jim? Who the hell is that?

[MoonRiver]

9. I can't wait until the election fraud investigations begin in our new Dem House

and hopefully Senate. :mad:

[KingFlorez]

12. I hope the voters are being made aware of this