Pennsylvania - Voting problems and irregularities

This is going to be a busy and exciting day in Pennsylvania.  The Democratic primary this year is expected to draw record voter turnouts.

Hopefully everything will go smoothly, but with any major election, there are going to be some problems.  It is also important, IMHO, to track any major problems that arise during the voting process.  Hopefully these problems can be identified and corrected immediately, but it’s also important to create a record so that problems can be prevented in the future.

I have started a summary of problems that I will try to update throughout the day (every hour or so).  

UPDATE 11am - A few problems are trickling in...

Please comment on any problems you encounter.  

Voting problems and / or irregularities by district:

District 1
No Problems reported

District 2
No Problems reported

District 3
No Problems reported

District 4
No Problems reported

District 5
7am Workers had voting machines plugged into a paramedics truck because they did not have any other power source.

District 6
No Problems reported

District 7
No Problems reported

District 8
No Problems reported

District 9
No Problems reported

District 10
No Problems reported

District 11
No Problems reported

District 12
No Problems reported

District 13
Sample ballots (lacking Obama's name) were being distributed within 10 feet of a polling station. A cease order was delivered by a sheriff's officer to the 10th St. polling place. The sample ballot was paid for by the Friends of Ward 1 and urged voters to support Hillary Clinton, Bob Brady, John Dougherty and William F. Keller

District 14
No Problems reported

District 15
No Problems reported

District 16
No Problems reported

District 17
No Problems reported

District 18
Power outage in Green Tree.

District 19
No Problems reported

Miscellaneous

1. As always - there are serious concerns about the equipment being used to record and tally the votes.

2. The Bush Administration has sent the DOJ to monitor the election.  

3. A few long lines are being reported.

4. Scattered reports of students having trouble voting with just their student ID. This is likely confusion on the part of poll workers.

5. Reports of broken machines and voters leaving the polls without voting in Delaware County, South Philadelphia (both voting machines were broken at 4th and Ritner), Spring Garden (both machines were down at St. Andrews Lithuananian Church at 19th and Wallace).

If you are having trouble finding your polling location, go HERE

Here are some tips from ProgressPolitics:

Potential problems and solutions Pennsylvania voters may face at the polls today:

1. Voters without proper ID.  Voters need to bring valid identification.  New voters are required to bring identification, but all voters should bring id just to be safe.  Such identification can be a Pennsylvania drivers license or a picture student or employee id.  Acceptable non-photo ID must have a name and address, such as a current utility bill or current paycheck.  

2. Another potential problem is voters names not appearing in the poll books. If a voter’s name doesn’t appear in the poll book, Common Cause advises voters to ask poll workers to check supplemental voting lists that are sometimes printed up after the main poll books are printed, and ask the poll workers to call the county board of elections. As a last resort he or she should ask to vote on a provisional ballot.  

3. Voters arriving at the wrong precinct.  If a Pensylvanian voter shows up at the wrong precinct "their vote can still count as long as they cast their vote anywhere in the correct county, even if they are at the wrong precinct in their county.  To have their vote count, they need to complete a provisional ballot and have the correct ID."  

4. Voting machine malfunction.  If a voter is at a polling place where voting machines have broken down or failed to start up, he or she should request an emergency paper ballot to vote.  

5. Voters arriving at the polls near closing time.  Voters who arrive at the polls and are in line before 8pm must be allowed to vote according to Pennsylvania law.  Voters cannot be turned away if they are in line by 8pm.

Voters who experience problems at their polling location should call Pennsylvania’s voter hotline: 1-877-VOTES-PA (1-877-868-3772) and/or the Common Cause national election protection line: 1-866-OUR VOTE (1-866-687-8683)