Voting Rights Watch: More details emerge on widespread Va. voting problems
Improperly distributed provisional ballots weren't the only problem voters faced today in Virginia, a state that has emerged not only as a key presidential battleground but also one of several hot spots for Election Day troubles. Here are some other concerns discussed at an Election Protection Coalition conference call held this afternoon:
* Early this morning, a Fairfax County police officer reportedly was pulling over African Americans outside a Reston, Va. polling station. Though the officer wasn't writing out tickets, he was checking people's identification.
* The lines were moving so slowly at one polling place in Chesapeake earlier today it appeared voters might face a seven-hour wait. The county registrar eventually took over, resulting in the lines moving faster.
* In the Hampton Roads area, some residents who registered to vote through the Division of Motor Vehicles discovered their names were not on the rolls. The Election Protection Coalition is investigating.
* There were ongoing problems in Chesterfield with long lines and ballots getting wet from the rain, causing the optical scanning equipment to have difficulty reading them.
* Electronic poll books were malfunctioning in Chesapeake and South Norfolk. Voters were told that they would have to wait until the equipment was up and running, but elections advocates say they should have been given emergency paper ballots.
* Other equipment problems included counting machines down in Portsmouth and Chesapeake.
* There have been some reports of voters being told they were stricken from the rolls because they had the same name as a convicted felon. The Election Protection Network is working to address the problem.
* Voters in Manassas were given bogus ballots that had only the presidential race on them.
* In York County, voters at one polling place were reportedly asked to show their identification by unknown people.
* Early this morning, a Fairfax County police officer reportedly was pulling over African Americans outside a Reston, Va. polling station. Though the officer wasn't writing out tickets, he was checking people's identification.
* The lines were moving so slowly at one polling place in Chesapeake earlier today it appeared voters might face a seven-hour wait. The county registrar eventually took over, resulting in the lines moving faster.
* In the Hampton Roads area, some residents who registered to vote through the Division of Motor Vehicles discovered their names were not on the rolls. The Election Protection Coalition is investigating.
* There were ongoing problems in Chesterfield with long lines and ballots getting wet from the rain, causing the optical scanning equipment to have difficulty reading them.
* Electronic poll books were malfunctioning in Chesapeake and South Norfolk. Voters were told that they would have to wait until the equipment was up and running, but elections advocates say they should have been given emergency paper ballots.
* Other equipment problems included counting machines down in Portsmouth and Chesapeake.
* There have been some reports of voters being told they were stricken from the rolls because they had the same name as a convicted felon. The Election Protection Network is working to address the problem.
* Voters in Manassas were given bogus ballots that had only the presidential race on them.
* In York County, voters at one polling place were reportedly asked to show their identification by unknown people.
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Sue Sturgis
Sue is the editorial director of Facing South and the Institute for Southern Studies.