False alarm - MI Absentee form problem already fixed

[jackstraw45]

Somehow, the absentee ballot form mailed out to thousands in Michigan has a typo that causes Kerry votes to go to Bush...check out the alignment of arrows under Presidential column (UNDER the first party vote column). The Kerry arrow is one row down on Bush's row.

Does ANYONE proofread these things?

Jeez...hope the Kerry lawyers are on this one

Contact for Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land:

Phone: [phone]



From:
http://www.livejournal.com/community/2004_elections/306938.html#cutid1

[ProudToBeLiberal]

1. I don't see any problems...

[girl gone mad]

2. Look at how the arrow line up.

A vote for Kerry is a vote for Bush.

[Renew Deal]

3. I see it. That's fucked up.

Look on the left. There is no arrow next to Bush's name.

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. Unbelievable. This is definitely an intentional mess-up.

NOBODY can be that incompetent.

[jackstraw45]

4. See where it says "Presidential" in black? Look down one line...

...to where it says Bush & Cheney and look to the right - NO ARROW.

Their arrow is one line down NEXT to JOHN KERRY!

Florida all over again...

They NEED to fix this.

[friesianrider]

5. I think...

If you choose the little arrow next to Kerry, you're actually voting for Bush because it goes:

Bush/Cheney

Kerry/Edwards <--

Nader <--

Whoever <--


So the FIRST arrow actually corresponds with a vote for Bush, the second arrow is for Kerry but looks like it's for Nader.

Is this what the problem is? PLEASE tell the state Kerry HQs or even call the national HQs. Here in PA we have a lawyer who deals with these things in our state.

[jackstraw45]

6. That's the problem alright...

This is an AMAZING mistake IMO.

[MidwestTransplant]

7. It should be fixed but it will give Kerry more votes IMO

[gbwarming]

8. This was noted and fixed yesterday. It was one precinct, 69 ballots

They went out to one precinct in Alma, MI I think. I'll look for the statement from the elections official that it would be fixed. It was posted here yesterday

[gbwarming]

12. DU Michigan Forum link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=159x978

[Roland99]

10. I noted and posted that up here a few days ago

Problem's already been taken care of.

Here's the email I received from them:

Greetings: This is in response to your recent email inquiry.

The ballot printing error is confined to a single precinct in Michigan. A very limited number of absentee ballots containing the error were released before the error was spotted as explained below.

On Monday, September 27, the clerk of the City of Alma received her ballots from her printer and filled her AV ballot requests.

On Tuesday, a voter called the clerk to advise that she had spotted a printing error. The error: the arrows corresponding to the presidential candidates were shifted down one position. As a result, there is no arrow pointing to Bush/Cheney -- and there is an extra arrow hanging off the bottom of the list. (The extra arrow points to the heading for the U.S. House race).

The error is confined to one precinct (Precinct #1) in the City of Alma. The clerk further advised that the ballot containing the error was sent to a total of 69 voters.

After learning of the error, the clerk contacted the printer and the Bureau of Elections. Arrangements have been made to reissue replacement ballots to the 69 voters as soon as corrected ballots can be obtained. The printer has advised the clerk to expect delivery on Monday, October 4.

Thank you for writing. Please do not hesitate to call this office if you have any questions.

Best Regards,

Michigan Department of State
Bureau of Elections

[Renew Deal]

11. I just got off the phone with the DFP. They will look into it.

An editor will check it out.

[ParanoidPat]

13. This was addressed on Friday by Roland99.....

.....in this thread,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=942216

And he posted a follow up thread here,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=947290

That thread contained this,

Here's the response I got from them:


Greetings: This is in response to your recent email inquiry.

The ballot printing error is confined to a single precinct in Michigan. A very limited number of absentee ballots containing the error were released before the error was spotted as explained below.

On Monday, September 27, the clerk of the City of Alma received her ballots from her printer and filled her AV ballot requests.

On Tuesday, a voter called the clerk to advise that she had spotted a printing error. The error: the arrows corresponding to the presidential candidates were shifted down one position. As a result, there is no arrow pointing to Bush/Cheney -- and there is an extra arrow hanging off the bottom of the list. (The extra arrow points to the heading for the U.S. House race).

The error is confined to one precinct (Precinct #1) in the City of Alma. The clerk further advised that the ballot containing the error was sent to a total of 69 voters.

After learning of the error, the clerk contacted the printer and the Bureau of Elections. Arrangements have been made to reissue replacement ballots to the 69 voters as soon as corrected ballots can be obtained. The printer has advised the clerk to expect delivery on Monday, October 4.

Thank you for writing. Please do not hesitate to call this office if you have any questions.



Best Regards,

Michigan Department of State
Bureau of Elections

Hope that helps clear things up! :evilgrin:

Thanks again Roland99! :toast:

[seabeyond]

14. this is how pat got over 3000 votes in florida

it wasnt so simple as old people not knowing how to vote. it was off alignment. i saw the ballot and was confusing.

this is on purpose. and obvious