Voters experience problems at the polls

by Leanne Tokars (ltokars@wsbt.com)

Tools

The polls in one precinct at Hums Elementary in Mishawaka did not open until 7 a.m. because an inspector failed to show up on time.

The polls in one precinct at Hums Elementary in Mishawaka did not open until 7 a.m. because an inspector failed to show up on time. (WSBT photo)

By Tiffany Griffin

Story Created: May 6, 2008 at 10:02 AM EST

Story Updated: May 6, 2008 at 6:03 PM EST

Voting Tuesday morning didn't start off without a hitch. Some local voters say they experienced problems at the polls.

Early morning voters at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center in South Bend were forced to wait.

“We didn't open till about 7 a.m.,” said poll inspector Derrick Faulkins. “I overslept this morning, so everyone was waiting when I came in."

The same happened at Hums Elementary in Mishawaka.

“Some people have been quite upset because there's no way they can get back because of their work schedules,” said Lester Frick who filled in for the inspector. “We feel very bad about that, but there's nothing we can do about it — our hands our tied."

It was a late start for some, but that's not what stopped Darren Turley from voting. He explained, “I've got to re-register, but I'm still going to vote."

He says voting is something he won’t miss come November.

“I think we need to go in a different direction because everything has been the same and I think we need to change it up for everybody, for every race,” said Turley of the race for president.

By the looks of it, at the Northeast Neighborhood Center, many agree.

“Even in a presidential election, it has never been like this,” commented poll inspector Jessie Broadnax.

Her poll’s one problem Tuesday was when their voting machine stopped working for a short while.

Voter Stephanie Heivilin says she was forced to leave her ballot on the top of a pile.

“To me, I was very alarmed to see that there was no box, no privacy,” said Heivilin. “How do I know she didn't look at my vote?"

John Borkowski with the Election Protection Project is monitoring voting problems in South Bend.

He pointed us to Saint Mary's College where some elderly nuns were turned away because they didn't have valid photo IDs.

“Everyone knows who they are — some are 90 years old,” exclaimed Borkowski. “They've been voting all their lives, and now that they're not allowed to vote this primary with so much at stake is a problem."

The same happened with some out-of-state college students.

The only thing Sister Julie McGuire can tell them now is to make sure they’re ready for November.

The St. Joseph County clerk says they did have some problems with getting the absentee ballots to the right polling sites.

They had 9,200 absentee ballots to deliver and some ended up at the wrong place. But the clerk says they did get everything fixed and taken care of quickly.

Stay with WSBT News and WSBT.com for election results throughout the night.

For more election headlines and voter resources, go to WSBT.com's Campaign ‘08 section.

More Good Stuff

WSBT Weather

icon
Current Temp 49.0
°
More Weather

On Demand

More On Demand

Stock Quotes

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Tonight On WSBTFull Schedule

7.00
60 Minutes
8.00
The Amazing Race 15
9.00
Three Rivers
10.00
Cold Case
11.00
WSBT News
11.30
Paid Programming

Question of The Day

Will the new health recommendations for women change your health screening habits?

E-mail your comments. We'll pick some to read during WSBT News at 5.

  • YES
  • NO
Today's Mortgage Rates