Ensure Voting Machines Work   (WV)

Editorial    Wheeling News-Register   22 October 2008

At least three voters have encountered serious problems with electronic voting machines in Ohio County. Though action to correct those voting machine malfunctions is being taken, election officials throughout the Northern Panhandle should take additional precautions.

"Early voting" began last week in West Virginia. It allows voters to go to their county courthouses and cast ballots in advance of election day, Nov. 4.

But in at least three counties, including Ohio, early voting has not gone entirely without challenges. Putnam and Jackson counties have reported headaches similar to that here in Wheeling.

We have been told by three people that when they attempted to vote for specific candidates, machines at the City-County Building initially recorded votes for others seeking the same offices. One case involved a vote for president, another for sheriff and the third for magistrate. In all three cases, voters noticed the improperly recorded votes and, with help from poll workers, were able to correct them.

Secretary of State Betty Ireland told our reporter that the improperly recorded votes resulted from machines that needed to be recalibrated. Movement of voting machines after they have been programmed once sometimes alters their settings slightly, she explained. Ireland added that she has directed officials in counties where problems have been encountered to recalibrate their machines.

We urge election officials in all Northern Panhandle counties to check the calibration of all machines being used for early voting - regardless of whether problems have been reported. Then, the machines should be tested by election officials.

That also should be done when machines are taken to polling places for election day.

Voters should pay careful attention during the process of casting their ballots. That can be done by referring to computer voting machine screens - and to the paper printouts to the left of the screens. If there is a problem, ask a poll worker for help.

West Virginians should be able to have confidence in the election process. Frankly, problems encountered during the past week have chipped away at that confidence. Election officials need to do all in their power - whatever it takes - to ensure that voters have no reason to complain about this election.