Florida Voting Machines Break Down On First Day

A local news station in Florida reports problems with machines on the first day of early voting:

People lined up to be among the first to vote at several early voting sites around Jacksonville Monday morning had an extra long wait and some left frustrated when machines at several locations refused to record the ballots.

"It was very shocking to have the very first ballot at 10 o'clock this morning not go into the machine," said state Rep. Audrey Gibson, who hoped to be first to vote at the Gateway location.

The Duval County elections office confirmed problems with voting machines at the Gateway Shopping Center and libraries on Edgewood Avenue, at Regency Square and Webb Wesconnett. Channel 4 heard from voters experiencing problems at other polling places, as well.

The Duval County elections office confirmed problems with voting machines at the Gateway Shopping Center and libraries on Edgewood Avenue, at Regency Square and Webb Wesconnett. Channel 4 heard from voters experiencing problems at other polling places, as well.

"I was frustrated with all the breakdowns of the machines," Westside voter John Lord said. "How long have they had to had this all fixed and ready to go and they knew it was an important election and that there would be a big turnout."

West Virginia voters have reported machines flipping their votes from Democratic to Republican.

If you know of any problems with voting machines in your area, please let us know.

Comments

[EuropeanComment]

I am wondering, why is it that in my home country voting machines/software and such is produced/developed but exported to the US and elsewhere? All the while we do absolutely NOT use such "stupid stuff". Problems like those reported from the US are unknown here, smooth fast easy and paper ballot voting only.
I doubt we would agree to vote via machines, hopefully never ever.

Would it not be an idea to have presidential elections organized strictly bipartisan on a federal level?
It is far too important to leave the outcome to the little accidents, coincidences and failures....

[Teritt]

Here is a website that will take you to the early vote tallies (broken down by counties) for FL:

https://doe.dos.state.fl.us/fvrscountyballotreports/FVRSAvailableFiles.aspx

[carriellbee]

The Rig is In to Steal 2008

In this shattering new interview, Stephen Spoonamore goes into harrowing detail about the Bush regime's election fraud, past, present and--if we don't spread the word right now--to come. Since he's the only whistle-blower out there who knows the perps themselves, and how they operate, we have to send this new piece far and wide.

http://www.electiondefensealliance.org/spoonamore_revelations

[SurrealPumpkin]

2 good things.

1) Florida has switched over to opti-scan machines, which means there is a paper ballot, and
2) in my small republican county just south of the I-40 corridor since yesterday when the polls opened 687 republicans and 1160 democrats have voted. Yes We Can!

[nyboomer]

Now look here, even voting machines know full well that Republicans are the only choice for this country. No one reprogrammed them. They programmed themselves after listening to the debates and the TV commercials.

Voting machines are just doing what is best for this country by skewing the vote towards the GOP.

It is plain old anti-machine bigotry to try and coerce the machines to correctly record the will of the people.

[edwcorey]

Isn't it odd that the machines are always broken in favor of Republicans? That goes beyond coincidental. It's a smoking gun, for crying out loud. Where's the FBI? Where's the state's attorney?

[DuPageDem]

These voting machines aren't broken. They're doing exactly what they were designed to do.

[TheFriendlyAtheist]

Every voting machine in this country should be turned into scrap metal.

A. Obama/Biden

B. McCain/Palin

C. Ralph Nadar

D. Bob Barr

Circle the letter next to the candidate your voting for. Put you ballot in a box. Have teams of two count the ballots, one to talley, one to verify.

[neocon666]

I absolutely agree. Not only is it too easy to program the machines to steal votes, even Microsoft has said that they are not secure, and you can go to YouTube and see demonstrations of hacking into them. They're nothing but a republican scam to steal elections.

[washingtonson]

I agree

[tds1273]

Hey, you know what doesn't break down?

Simple !@#%ing Pen and Paper!
It is not hackable either, funny thing that.

[bennybeaver]

Oregon has been voting by mail for several years, seems to work.

[lemonyashes]

I'm from Oregon it works, we get our ballots in the mail although I haven't seen mine yet. There are barcodes on the envelopes which may take the privacy of your vote away. The other problem is that they think it's possible some people who share a household could force others in the house to vote a certain way, kinda like the republicans do. But otherwise works great. I don't put mine in the mail I use the drop box the day before the election to make sure it gets there.

[ABCD]

Seriously, is Florida going to be a problem AGAIN? C'mon PEOPLE! why haven't we demanded new machines there? WHY?

[Nolewoman]

I don't think the machines are the problem, they have a paper trail, it is the people in charge that seem to be the problem. Just be vigilent. Call for help if you feel there is a problem.

[Jordles]

Day 2 here in Miami and there are a bunch of new machines running and the process is relatively smoother. AWESOME crowds waiting in line yesterday and plenty of people lined up today, only thankfully the lines are moving faster! No need to panic or bash us Floridians too much yet. Just watch, we're going to win Florida for Obama and that'll be all she wrote for the other guys!

[Chixsngr]

Glad to hear it. Hope you Floridians don't take any crap and raise holy hell if you see a problem. We're pulling for you, we really are.

We know its not the voters but your wonderful Florida GOP.

[bigblackdog]

In Indian River County (acclaimed a jewel in the Republican crown) we have new machines -- both for voting and verifying IDs. The Supervisor of Elections, who is running for re-election herself, purchased Sequoia machines that did not provide a paper trail.

She spent $350,000+ on 104 IDmachines but they are only used in 3 early-voting precincts because she didn't get broadband installed in the others. Taxpayer continues to pay maintenance though.
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/oct/19/electionmachines-sit-idly-bygood-idea/

In 2008 she left an entire race off of ballots. In 2006 she failed to include a candidate's name on 6,500+ ballots in 4 precincts.
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/sep/11/clem-blames-primary-problems-on-area-democratic/
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/oct/21/letter-better-luck-gioeli/

In August, her office miscounted over 10,000 ballots in 40/54 precincts.
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/oct/18/supervisor-of-elections/

When security cameras in the absentee ballot area failed, she lied about the duration and joked about the ballots arriving in her favor.
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/aug/16/30gt/

Her voter outreach material looks more like personal campaign material.
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/oct/14/no-headline---200810132329-14vrusscol/

At least she got to appear on The Daily Show,
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=113952&title=Slow-Voter-Turnout
before we try to vote her out of office -- if those machines will cooperate.

[billyboil]

Why are we not surprised?
America politicises its law enforcement officers (sherriff mike scott in uniform, with sidearm, damning Obama).
America politicises its electoral officers (repubs/democrats in charge of voting systems, rather than neutral public servants, as in the rest of the western world).
And yet America claims to be "the best democracy in the world".
Oh well, one day I guess "y'all" will wake up.
By the way, Sarah Palin for V.P/Pres?????????
Wow. What a clever country!

[Bitsko]

Nothing personal, Floridians, but from all the horror stories I've heard and read about over the years, why would anyone in their right mind want to live there?

[MOSPDC]

No state income taxes

[lemonyashes]

Mostly good weather, also and also:) I learned that from McCain's VP.

[bennybeaver]

I have heard said that maybe we should just give Florida to Cuba and be done with it.

[SurrealPumpkin]

If McCain wins I'll buy the wrapping paper :)

[Kerra52]

What is the address for Obama's team to report problems? Someone posted yesterday.

I know you can call 1-866- OUR-VOTE and enter the two letters for the state you are reporting problems. You do not have to live in the state. Just anytime you hear or read or see a problem, call them. You do get a live person to speak to.

[alainv]

Golly Gee, you mean those machines that helped steal the last two elections did not just fix themselves ? I'm shocked. What do we do when the repugs steal this election ? I'd like to think that would be grounds for a revolution but as a country of brainwashed sheep, that ain't gonna happen . Sarah Palin will be our Pres within two years and as a bunch of spineless jellyfish that is exactly what we deserve. Beam me up Scotty, no intelligent life hear.

[Bitsko]

Here in New York City, we have good old levered mafia-contracted voting machines that do the trick quite efficiently. Yes, we have the occasional fraud (that's the New York way), but nothing on the scale of what goes on with these paperless drones that might as well be shredders.

[lemonyashes]

I'm what my own president called me an "angry liberal". What Dems didn't understand yet I've seen evidence of it more now "sometimes you have to fight for what is right." That means to put your life on the line for a common good greater than yourself. I'm willing, ready , and able to fight because I can't take another 4 years. I've heard many say they'll leave the country if McCain gets elected. If McCain gets elected what country will have any one of us?

[heartsick]

This is a disgraceful assault on our Democracy! Florida will not be allowed to steal this election so they may as well stop tampering with the vote. If they persist in trying to steal this election, Americans should decide not to spend a single vacation day there. If they have to be forced to comply with election laws, the best way to do it will be to hit them in the pocketbook! Choose a State that upholds the right of every citizen to have his/her vote counted peoperly to spend your tourism dollars!

[1099]

Yeah, it's all one big conspiracy by Florida. Grow up.

[Bitsko]

Wasn't that last week's G.O.P. argument? You're supposed to be rambling on about Rev. Wright this week. Read your e-mails.

[Bitsko]

Sorry. Responded to the wrong missive.

[lemonyashes]

A first good National "community organizing" effort after Obama is elected would be to quit watching anymore news that only provides "fair and balanced" only news dedicated to "truth, investigative accuracy". A second is to demand democracy in voting. And I agree any problem states that even have the appearance of voter suppression should be boycotted. We do not need to force Obama and his admin. to fix this as he will be burdened with more pressing problems. But as citizens before the next election we hit both the news and elections. YES WE CAN!