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

[GSMRaleigh]

Hmmmm sounds like the republican thuggery are up to their old tricks.

[AndrewInToronto]

I have just finished watching "Hacking Democracy" and it turned out that the memory card which Diebold said only stored data actually had a executable programme which could be altered to change how the votes were processed. It was demonstrated in the documentary in which six "no" and two "yes" were tabulated as one "no" and seven "yes," results which were transferred into the GEMS tabulating software which Diebold supplies. NO TRACE.

So it was possible that even if the screens appeared to be allowing people to vote for their candidate, that the tabulating software could be rigged.

http://www.hackingdemocracy.com/

[vernbvb]

We have known about this tampering for some years now. When will something be done about it. The company which tabulates the votes of course has ties to the GOP. How long will voters sit by and continue to passively be led to the slaughter.

[peloton]

The Tallahassee newsaper has an article today about voting machines not working in Leon County. Election officials note that it is a statewide problem. Here is the link: //tallahas­see.com/ar­ticle/2008­1020/BREAK­INGNEWS/81­020024.

This is just unbelievable. I thought we lived in a democracy. The republican party really will do anything to win.

[vernbvb]

Only if we continue to allow them.

[seattledemocrat]

How is it that ATMs know to the penny what I withdraw and yet we can't get voting machines to work.

What a joke!

[MarkBoston]

And it's the same God Damn company that makes both machines !! Here we go again ..... Issues in FL !!!!! Now there are reports in WV of these bloody machines flipping the votes .. INSIST on paper ballots people .!!!!

[vernbvb]

Start at the top and investigate administration responsible for choosing and installing machines and monitoring them. Then prosecute to the fullest extent of the law implementing the harshest penalties. Send the message as loudly, as strongly and as quickly as possible.

[steadyblu]

The administration responsible is Republican Gov Charlie Crsit. What a surprise.

[hilary916]

Why is it always the same friggin' states that report these kind of problems? Can't they get their act together? If it's that big of a problem, go back to using paper ballots. Geez. I can't handle another botched election.

[Wiredwilly]

It is not " botched " it is intentionally rigged. Congress has had 8 years to affix simple paper trails & have done nothing. The " elections ' come down to Florida & Ohio AGAIN. What a shock. People are so stupid it stuns the imagination.

[vernbvb]

It appears that they fully intend to target many more states than Florida and Ohio this time. And yes, the machines are intentionally rigged for both voting and tabulating votes. So can we finally prosecute those responsible regardless of how high they go up the ladder?

[darthdarcy]

Why do we need voting electronic machines at all, except to rig elections..!

[GingerB]

We don't need voting machines of any kind. Paper ballots and hand counting of the vote is all we need. Who cares if it takes longer to count the vote? It matters that the votes be cast and counted honestly.

[lynjs]

Preaching to the choir. I said this after the last two elections. What happened to common sense? If the machines don't work, get a piece of paper write the name or names on it. then put in a box. When the election is over hand count. It might take a few days, but at least we'd be sure. Lord, making something simple hard.

[Albertabunny]

We just had an election in Canada and it was problem free and historically there are few if any problems with voter or electoral fraud or technical problems with machines here in our country. It just doesn't exist here.
I find it very odd that the U.S.that is a world leader in technologcal know-how and champions democracy so much that they supervise elections in other countries cannnot seem to have a problem free election at home. It is bewildering for us in Canada to see a repeat of this every single time you vote. What gives????

[Eric8]

Florida has to be ground zero for incompetent reform. Why is voting so hard? Besides the obvious conclusion of attempts at voter suppression, a proverbial plank of the Republican platform since the civil rights era, might I suggest that as a society we have become way to complex. Why can't Congress pass a federal voting rights act, that outlines in simplistic terms, how each state should invest in pens and a lot of paper, we could even use recycled paper, and put an X next to the candidate they want. Sure thats a lot of counting, but isn't this the most accurate way to vote. Isn't this how elections are held in grade schools, jr. high, and high school? I've never heard of problems with this form of voting. Instead we allow each district, state, to develop its own methods to count and receive votes. Each place is like its own little experiment in forms of voting, a kind of sociological behavioral test for citizens. Its very ironic how the worlds superpower, the Great American Empire, has problems with voting. We should adopt a new national slogan, "yes we have been to moon, but no we can't have one error free election..."

[vernbvb]

Why don't we start the largest citizen petition drive in the history of America to accomplish that simplistic way of voting. We can do it just until our country moves forward in its respect of a fraud free election. I will bet you that after this year's election is over many will want to return to paper and pencil voting. I believe it is doable.

[lemonyashes]

Perhaps voters from Florida can sue their state for the damages caused to it's electorate in anxiety or PTSD. I know Florida's voting machines are causing me extreme anxiety as it seems to be causing the same in many others if these postings are an example and I don't even live in a Republin controlled state. Can I sue?

[devanate]

Republicans should not be allowed to vote.

[Inthematrix]

How random? NOT!!! http://inthematrix.wordpress.com/

[khiva]

Eight years to fix the problem and here we are. Good work, Florida voting officials! Did you get a salary for the last eight years' work?

[MizFlagPin]

It can possibly happen anywhere in any state this election. Let's all be prepared.


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We're in this together
Fight voter suppression

BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY, VOTE!

[GingerB]

DEMAND your county, township, parish, etc. goes to paper ballots and hand counted votes before the next election. Do not accept voting machines or tabulating machines. It may take longer to count the votes, but that should be preferable to having your vote stolen.

Your legislators will not do it unless you push them. Get organized and get on it if you value your vote.

[vernbvb]

Start the petition drive quickly. I will certainly sign on.

[GingerB]

YOU have to do it in YOUR voting district and state.

[lemonyashes]

Why does Florida keep voting in Republicans who would treat their citizens like this?

[McCrazy]

The good news is they replaced the faulty machines and this WAS NOT A VOTE FLIPPER!! Unlike West Virginia, it was a bunch of crappy machines breaking down!! God what idiots!!

[vernbvb]

You think this was by accident?

[AndrewInToronto]

The documentary DEMONSTRATED that the accu-cards for recording votes for each machine had and still may have an executable programme in each which was denied by Diebold. The programme was modified by a computer programmer which allowed fraudulent results. Replacing the machines means nothing anymore.

[M4DN3SS]

Paper doesn't do that. WTF are people thinking?!?!

Oh yeah. I forgot. Rigging the election.

Sorry.

[sanywhere]

florida has a paper ballot that is fed into the machines and kept. so, they were thinking about that.

[GingerB]

The machines are the problem. Get rid of them!

[dubiouslyhopeful]

I guess I've been lucky living on the west coast - just dropped my absentee ballot off today at our county courthouse. Just like I've done for the past 16 years.....I mean there really is no reason for this and i really feel they just can't steal another one - damn it - all you states that have problems GET IT TOGETHER!