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TomSlick

(11,894 posts) Mon Oct 21, 2024, 12:48 PM Oct 21

I had an early voting glitch.

I was standing at the door when the polling place opened for early voting, so I was the first voter on one of the machines.

Everything seemed to work until I printed the ballot, at which point an error message appeared. The voting officials couldn't figure out the problem. My ballot had printed but the scanner wouldn't read it. The bottom line is that my ballot was put with the provisional ballots.

The head of the local voting commission assures me that the ballot will be counted and that I don't need to appear for the provisional ballot hearing the Tuesday after the election. I've known her for years and I trust her when she tells me there is nothing to worry about.

We have really good voting machines that produce a printed ballot that is saved for any needed recount. It usually works flawlessly. My timing was just bad.

The teaching point is to not be the first voter on a machine.

10 replies

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I had an early voting glitch. (Original Post) TomSlick Oct 21 OP

The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is requesting ANYONE who has ANY difficulty... Think. Again. Oct 21 #1

The County Election Coordinator is a long time client and friend. TomSlick Oct 21 #3

I believe the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is requesting this info in case there is a larger problem... Think. Again. Oct 21 #4

That makes sense. TomSlick Oct 21 #7

I really don't know about that stuff but I believe thos machines are supposed to be tested before they reach the public. Think. Again. Oct 21 #8

Murphy's law has universal application. TomSlick Oct 21 #9

I absolutely agree, especially when humans can easily screw up a computer. Think. Again. Oct 21 #10

I take it the tabulator issued the error. Did the election judge attempt to enter it again? sinkingfeeling Oct 21 #2

The error was on the voting machine. TomSlick Oct 21 #5

This message was self-deleted by its author TomSlick Oct 21 #6

Think. Again.

(17,996 posts)

1. The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is requesting ANYONE who has ANY difficulty...

Reply to TomSlick (Original post)

Mon Oct 21, 2024, 12:54 PM

Oct 21

...with their voting experience to report that experience to them at:

866-OUR-VOTE

If you or anyone you know has trouble voting, for any reason, call 866-OUR-VOTE, a hotline set up by Election Protection, a nonpartisan national coalition led by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

We don't know all the games that they will be playing and the report of your experience could very well be important in some way.

TomSlick

(11,894 posts)

3. The County Election Coordinator is a long time client and friend.

Reply to Think. Again. (Reply #1)

Mon Oct 21, 2024, 06:50 PM

Oct 21

I don't have any doubt my ballot will be counted. Sometimes there is an advantage from living in a small town.

There is a "hearing" at noon on the Tuesday after the election for the County Election Commission to rule on provisional ballots. I may go just to see how the hearing goes.

Think. Again.

(17,996 posts)

4. I believe the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is requesting this info in case there is a larger problem...

Reply to TomSlick (Reply #3)

Mon Oct 21, 2024, 06:54 PM

Oct 21

...that they should look into, as well as to help individual voters with any one-time difficulties.

TomSlick

(11,894 posts)

7. That makes sense.

Reply to Think. Again. (Reply #4)

Mon Oct 21, 2024, 07:05 PM

Oct 21

I'll find out if the problem happened again. I think I was just the first voter on that machine after it was delivered by the supplier.

Think. Again.

(17,996 posts)

8. I really don't know about that stuff but I believe thos machines are supposed to be tested before they reach the public.

Reply to TomSlick (Reply #7)

Mon Oct 21, 2024, 07:24 PM

Oct 21

TomSlick

(11,894 posts)

9. Murphy's law has universal application.

Reply to Think. Again. (Reply #8)

Mon Oct 21, 2024, 07:29 PM

Oct 21

The other rule that applies: "To err is human. To really screw things up requires a computer."

Think. Again.

(17,996 posts)

10. I absolutely agree, especially when humans can easily screw up a computer.

Reply to TomSlick (Reply #9)

Mon Oct 21, 2024, 07:31 PM

Oct 21

sinkingfeeling

(52,999 posts)

2. I take it the tabulator issued the error. Did the election judge attempt to enter it again?

Reply to TomSlick (Original post)

Mon Oct 21, 2024, 01:25 PM

Oct 21

TomSlick

(11,894 posts)

5. The error was on the voting machine.

Reply to sinkingfeeling (Reply #2)

Mon Oct 21, 2024, 06:59 PM

Oct 21

The machine printed the ballot but there was a error message on the screen which neither the poll workers nor I understood. The election coordinator managed to pull the ballot from the machine. I checked it for accuracy and tried to feed it into the separate scanner/tabulator, which kept spitting it back. I tried, all the poll workers tried, but the scanner simply would not accept it.

It will be fine. The County Election Coordinator is an long-time friend and client. She's confident it will be counted by hand. If she's confident, I'm confident.

Response to sinkingfeeling (Reply #2)

TomSlick This message was self-deleted by its author.

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