More Ohio Election Day Problems

Ohio was a hotbed for Election Day problems back in 2004, and it seems that this may be the case again this year. Today, a number of problems have already been reported:

• The Franklin County phone system crashed due to an overwhelming number of calls regarding the election.
• ElectionProtection.com reports widespread problems with voting machines and confusion implementing the state's photo ID requirement.
• An overnight break-in has caused one polling location in Columbus to open late.
• Congresswoman Jean Schmidt struggled to cast her optical scan ballot, which the machine repeatedly rejected. Similar scanning problems have been reported in Akron.
• In Cleveland there have been reports of long lines, and poll workers struggling to get machines up and running.
• In Athens County in southeast Ohio, the prosecutor warned voters to be leery of fraudulent calls claiming their voting precinct had been changed.
• Frustrated voters across the state have been reported leaving polling locations without casting their ballots.
• There have been reports of identification with old addresses being refused, despite elections boards being reminded several times that this was acceptable ID.
• 43 polling locations had serious problems in Cuyahoga County, which is 6% of overall polls in the county.

If you experience any problems this year with the voting process, speak up and let us know. Send us an e-mail at editor@clevelandleader.com. If you have questions about your voting rights, you may also wish to contact Election Protection's Voter Assistance Hotline at 1-800-OUR-VOTE.