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Ballot glitch concerns Democrats
Webb's last name cut off on part of electronic ballot in three cities

From staff and wire reports
 
Oct 25, 2006

U.S. Senate candidate Jim Webb's last name has been cut off on part of the electronic ballot in Alexandria, Falls Church and Charlottesville because of a computer glitch. The problem also affects other candidates with long names, officials said.

The Democrat's full name appears on the page where voters choose for whom to vote. The error shows up only on the summary page, where voters are asked to review their ions before hitting the button to record their votes.

Election officials emphasized that the problem won't cause votes to be cast incorrectly, even though it might cause some voter confusion.

The mistake stems from the increased type size on the ballot, election officials said. The larger type is easier to read but unintentionally shortens the longer names on the ballot's summary page.

So Webb will appear with his first name and nickname only or "James H. 'Jim'" on summary pages in the only three Virginia jurisdictions that use balloting machines manufactured by Hart InterCivic of Austin, Texas.

"We are concerned," Webb spokeswoman Kristian Denny Todd said yesterday. "People will worry if their vote has been counted, or if there is a malfunction in the machine."

In a statement issued yesterday, Hart InterCivic said the "font-size limitation" on the summary screen causes longer names to truncate. The company said it is seeking to upgrade the Virginia machines.

"Hart InterCivic does intend to install the newer system version before the next major election in 2007, assuming certification from the commonwealth," the company said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

Every candidate on Alexandria's summary page has been affected in some way by the glitch. Even if candidates' full names appear, as is the case with Webb's Republican opponent, incumbent Sen. George F. Allen, their party affiliations have been cut off.

Jean Jensen, secretary of the Virginia State Board of Elections, pledged to have the issue fixed by the 2007 statewide elections.

"If I have to personally get on a plane and bring Hart InterCivic people here myself, it'll be corrected," Jensen said.

Absentee voters casting ballots in advance of the Nov. 7 election first noticed the problem. Election officials have been forced to post signs in voting booths and instruct poll workers to explain why some longer names appear cut off.

Jensen said the three affected jurisdictions have begun educating voters to prevent confusion on Election Day and will place notices in each of the polling booths that explain the summary-page problem.



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