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Commissioners hear of polling place problems
By Amy Zalar, Herald-Standard
05/25/2007
Updated 05/25/2007 12:40:18 PM EDT

The Fayette County commissioners Thursday heard about several problems that occurred at county polling places during the May 15 municipal primary.

During public comment, Uniontown City Councilman Joseph N. Giachetti characterized the problems as "chaos" in the city polling places. The primary marked only the third time in which the county's electronic voting machines were used.

Giachetti, who won the Democratic nomination for Uniontown City treasurer on May 15, said at the Jewish Community Center, where voters from Ward 1 cast their ballots, many people left because there weren't enough machines. Giachetti said that 147 people left one polling place without voting, adding that the number of people who did not vote was likely much higher throughout the city. He said a sample machine should be available, the way the old lever machines were on display in the past.

Giachetti also said there were "42 people" handing out candidate information, which also turned voters off. "Voters are walking away," Giachetti said. He also said the street lists of eligible voters are outdated, and include the names of dead people.

Dunbar Township Tax Collector Marigrace Butela spoke about different problems that she encountered on Election Day. Butela said she was "harassed" by the owner of the polling place when she went to vote at DeVito Park and had to leave and come back accompanied by a constable to be able to vote. Additionally, Butela said Douglas Corteal, owner of DeVito Park, initially locked the doors and would not let her in, although she had a "watcher certificate" for commissioner candidate Vincent Zapotosky.

"Every year I have a problem voting," Butela said, adding that Corteal shouldn't have anything to do with a watcher's certificate. Butela said she is considering filing a complaint. "It's been an ongoing thing with Mr. Corteal," Butela said.

Commission Chairwoman Angela M. Zimmerlink told Butela that no voter should be harassed and the judge of election at each poll is responsible for handling voters. Zimmerlink urged Butela to speak with Laurie Lint, director of the election bureau, to discuss the issue before taking any action.

In response to Giachetti's comments, Zimmerlink said the three commissioners did not choose to replace the lever machines, it was required because of the "Florida fiasco with the chads." She said the commissioners had to comply with a federal mandate, and she thinks the eSlate system in the county was the most voter-friendly of any available.

Zimmerlink pointed out that there were very few complaints after the 2006 primary and general elections. She said a longer ballot this year may have contributed to the problems. Zimmerlink said training was held for poll workers and judges of election, and the street list has been cleaned up. She said the number of machines to place at each poll was the result of analyzing the number of voters in each precinct and the voter turnout for the past five years. She said additional public demonstrations will be done on the machines prior to the November election, and the commissioners could look at changing the number of machines at some polls.

Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites said it was "unfortunate" the commissioners were forced to get rid of the lever machines, which had 25 years of life left in them. He said the lever machines were decertified, making it illegal to use them. "We have to continue to focus on outreach," Vicites said, using the Fayette County Fair as an example of a place where a machine could be placed on display.

Vicites said the turnout for the 2006 and 2007 primaries was almost exactly the same, but the extensive ballot this time took extra time. "I don't know if you could ever get a more lengthy ballot," Vicites said.

Although Butela said touch screen machines instead of the dial, or "Etch a Sketch," machines the county purchased would have been better, Zimmerlink said it is too late to change machines.

"It is what it is. We already bought the machines. We need to continue with the education process," Zimmerlink said.

 



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