CA , Orange County--Why Was Ballot Tally So Slow, Supervisors Ask

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Why Was O.C.'s Ballot Tally So Slow, Supervisors Ask

By MEG JAMES, Times Staff Writer

Orange County supervisors want to find out why it took nine hours for ballots to be tabulated on election night last week, as returns in Orange County lagged far behind those in other regions. "If anything needs to be done, in terms of counting equipment or technology, then perhaps it's time that we did something about it," Board Chairman Charles V. Smith said. "It's time that we stopped using the excuse of the bankruptcy to see what we can do to be up to date." Supervisor Todd Spitzer said the registrar's Web site crashed frequently on election night, and into the wee hours of Wednesday morning. And, he said, it took 90 minutes to get the results of the first batch of absentee ballots. "I think it's incumbent upon us to get answers for what appears to be a very serious glitch in our system," Spitzer said. "We have a responsibility to make sure that doesn't happen again" in November. County Registrar of Voters Rosalyn Lever has said previously that some delays were caused by ballot-counting machines jammed with 6,000 ballots that had been improperly coded. Those cards had to be removed and duplicated. The delays that aggravated Spitzer and Smith were of little concern to others. "I think he [Spitzer] is too used to microwave cooking," said Jean Askham, president of the Orange County League of Women Voters. "It's very important to have an accurate count, not necessarily a fast count." Meanwhile, Smith and Supervisor Jim Silva requested that Lever's office provide computer breakdowns of the number of voters in each congressional and legislative district race by political party to check crossover votes in the open primary. Askham said she didn't know who would benefit from such an analysis. "I guess it would be interesting if you are into statistics, but I don't know what public purpose this serves," Askham said. "Maybe they are concerned about the viability of their own political parties." Smith said he is interested in finding out how many people voted for president, and then went on to cast ballots for candidates in other races. Traditionally there is a drop off after high-profile races. Smith is also interested in the effect of the open primary.

Copyright 2000 Los Angeles Times http://www.latimes.com/editions/orange/ocnews/20000315/t000024708.html

-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), March 16, 2000

Answers

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Orange County supervisors want to find out why it took nine hours for ballots to be tabulated on election night last week, as returns in Orange County lagged far behind those in other regions.

"If anything needs to be done, in terms of counting equipment or technology, then perhaps it's time that we did something about it," Board Chairman Charles V. Smith said.

"It's time that we stopped using the excuse of the bankruptcy to see what we can do to be up to date."

Supervisor Todd Spitzer said the registrar's Web site crashed frequently on election night, and into the wee hours of Wednesday morning. And, he said, it took 90 minutes to get the results of the first batch of absentee ballots.

"I think it's incumbent upon us to get answers for what appears to be a very serious glitch in our system," Spitzer said. "We have a responsibility to make sure that doesn't happen again" in November. County Registrar of Voters Rosalyn Lever has said previously that some delays were caused by ballot-counting machines jammed with 6,000 ballots that had been improperly coded. Those cards had to be removed and duplicated. The delays that aggravated Spitzer and Smith were of little concern to others.

"I think he [Spitzer] is too used to microwave cooking," said Jean Askham, president of the Orange County League of Women Voters. "It's very important to have an accurate count, not necessarily a fast count."

Meanwhile, Smith and Supervisor Jim Silva requested that Lever's office provide computer breakdowns of the number of voters in each congressional and legislative district race by political party to check crossover votes in the open primary. Askham said she didn't know who would benefit from such an analysis.

"I guess it would be interesting if you are into statistics, but I don't know what public purpose this serves," Askham said. "Maybe they are concerned about the viability of their own political parties." Smith said he is interested in finding out how many people voted for president, and then went on to cast ballots for candidates in other races. Traditionally there is a drop off after high-profile races. Smith is also interested in the effect of the open primary.

Copyright 2000 Los Angeles Times http://www.latimes.com/editions/orange/ocnews/20000315/t000024708.html

-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), March 16, 2000.


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