Primaries turnout prompts concerns for Nov. [View All]

[brooklynite]

Source: USA Today

Record turnout in this year's presidential primaries has election officials worried about possible shortages of machines, ballots and poll workers in November.

In 17 of the 24 primaries held so far, turnouts were larger than any in the past 40 years, the result of competitive Democratic and Republican contests and earlier primaries. Paper ballots ran out from California to the District of Columbia, more poll workers were needed in Arizona and an electronic voter registration database crashed in Connecticut.

"The biggest problem during the primary season has been too many voters," says Doug Chapin, director of electionline.org, which tracks voting issues. "Time and time again, the problem has been turnout being up higher than even the most optimistic projection."

Now officials from Virginia to Texas are warning that they will need more voting machines in the fall to avoid long lines.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-02-28-Turnout_N.htm

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I can accept there may be a voting machine problem, but having inadequate paper ballots at this point is inexcusable.