Power problem hit polls in San Diego's first use of e-voting

[Doug Grinbergs <saule@xxxxxxxxx>]

<http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/8159604.htm>
Posted on Thu, Mar. 11, 2004
Power problem hit polls in San Diego's first use of e-voting
Michelle Morgante
Associated Press

SAN DIEGO - A county report said a computer battery problem affected about 40 percent of polling stations, delaying and frustrating voters who lined up to cast electronic ballots in last week's primary election.

The report released Wednesday, however, indicated there was no way to measure how many people were unable to vote.

On March 2, San Diego County was quickly overwhelmed with calls for help when poll workers turned on electronic devices that encode the magnetic-striped cards used to access touch-screen machines.

Poll workers were trained to expect their computer screens to show a page from the voting-system software. Instead, 40 percent of the 1,611 devices initially displayed a screen from the Windows operating system, according to the report by the county's Chief Administrative Office.

Though only four computer-clicks were needed to advance to the expected screen, many poll workers had no idea how to do so. The "widespread problem" with the encoding devices "was considered to be 'low probability,'" so poll workers were not given instructions on how to reach the proper screen, or alternative methods for encoding the access cards, according to the report.

"At a few locations, voters actually assisted poll workers in maneuvering through the start up process to reach the login screen," the report stated.

Diebold Election Systems of McKinney, Texas, is trying to determine the cause. The county's report blamed an unexpected discharge from an internal battery that caused the computers to reset themselves and display the Windows screen.

"We just don't know yet why there would have been a low battery or power-source issue," Diebold spokesman David Bear said. "We are certainly looking at it."

The county said Diebold is expected to deliver its own report on the problem in about two weeks.

In San Diego County, some 6,800 poll workers were recruited for the March 2 election. County spokeswoman Linda Miller said poll workers with computer skills will be needed for future elections.

The county Registrar of Voters had 11 troubleshooter hotlines set up, as well as 50 other phone lines available for poll workers to reach help. But the lines couldn't handle the rush of calls when polls attempted to open simultaneously at 7 a.m.

The report said 64 percent of polling stations managed to open on time. By 8 a.m., 88 percent were open, and by 9 a.m., all but 31 polling stations were open. The last station opened by 11:05 a.m.