Problems with voting machines reported across Brooklyn during Primary voting

Board of Elections uses Twitter as sounding board

September 10, 2013 By Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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The New York City Board of Elections (BOE) was putting out fires all over the city on Tuesday as a number of the old mechanical lever-style voting machines failed to function properly on Primary Day. Many of the problems occurred in Brooklyn.

When machines were not functioning, voters were told to use paper ballots. But some said they were turned away altogether.

BOE said there were 5,059 machines set up throughout the boroughs on Tuesday. By mid-afternoon, roughly 200 incidents of machines not working were reported. BOE used Twitter as a complaint board and directly responded to reports of problems.

City Councilmember Jumaane Williams (District 45) reported a number of problems at polling sites in Brooklyn, including the P.S. 235 Annex on Ditmas Avenue, and at P.S. 269 on Nostrand Avenue — the busiest poll site in the district — where at one point all four of the machines were down. Williams also reported that the only voting booth at St. Therese Church on Troy Avenue was having problems.

All of the voting machines were out of order on Tuesday morning at Concord Village in Downtown Brooklyn, voters reported. State Sen. Daniel Squadron’s team also reported troubles at I.S. 71 in North Brooklyn. Squadron spokesperson Amy Spitalnick told supporters early Tuesday afternoon, “We’re hearing that some voting machines may not be perfectly adjusted. Make sure an “X” appears next to Daniel’s name when you pull the lever.”

One out of four machines was out of commission at Congregation Mount Sinai on Cadman Plaza East in Brooklyn Heights. DNAinfo.com reported that even Republican mayoral candidate Joe Lhota had problems voting at the synagogue, and had to use a paper ballot. DNAinfo also reported machine troubles at P.S. 256, J.H.S. 142, and J.H.S. 257 in Park Slope.

Assemblywoman Joan Millman (52AD) reported machine problems at 240 Jay Street in Downtown Brooklyn. “Please send mechanic,” she tweeted. She also reported one machine down at P.S. 32 on Hoyt Street in Boerum Hill.

Voter Jonathan Rosen complained, “[BOE] running 3rd world election. Every machine at Park Slope Armory broken.” In another tweet, he said, “Machines were out from 6 a.m. til I left at 9 a.m.” BOE responded directly to his complaint. “We apologize for any inconvenience. Our Executive Director and Director of Public Relations personally went to the site.” The machines were eventually fixed.

Michael Bascombe said that the voting machines were down at P.S. 219 on Clarkson Avenue and E. 94. Thomas Dollar reported a broken machine at 100 Clermont Avenue in Brooklyn. “Levers wouldn’t pull, a vote for comptroller nearly undid my vote for mayor,” he said.

Jill Cornell reported that a machine was broken at Bishop Ford High School in Brooklyn. A cardboard box “privacy booth” was erected, she said.

Personnel problems also plagued some polling sites. Voter Elana tweeted that there was no poll site coordinator at 4th Avenue and 30th Street in Brooklyn “Never showed up!” Fellow voter Abraham Riesman complained that he was told by the BOE representative he spoke to via telephone, “There are no primary elections in your district today.”

“I corrected her by pointing out that there are multiple city- and borough-wide primaries today and she said, ‘Ohhh, you’re right.’”

Campbell Brown said, “Just tried to vote and they don’t have my name. I’m registered and voted at same place in last election. What’s up?” BOE responded, saying, “Vote via standby ballot. If you are a regular voter your name IS in the system and your vote counts!”

Earlier in the day, it was reported that Democratic mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner discovered that his name wasn’t listed on the voting rolls when he went to his polling place. A campaign staffer called BOE, which verified that Weiner is a registered Democrat, and he was permitted to vote.

One of the more troubling complaints came from Robin C. McClary, who reported that “election inspectors” in Fort Greene on Adelphi Street were sitting right next to BOE staff and asking voters their party affiliations. “That ain’t right,” she said, adding, “The young lady ID’ed herself as a GOP election inspector.” McClary was advised by BOE, “Please speak with the coordinator at the site to discuss the Poll watchers inappropriate behavior.” In another tweet, she was told, “Workers in a Primary sometimes need to ask your party affiliation if they cannot find your name in the book.”

BOE officials received some praise for taking complaints via Twitter and responding to them live. Senator Brad Hoylman wrote, “Glad to see [BOE] using Twitter to catalog and respond to poll site problems.”

For those who can’t tweet, BOE advised, “You should be able to get through if you call 866-VOTE-NYC.”