We at johnkerry.com are pleased to be participating in the EP365 (Election Protection) monitoring and rapid response operation. Here’s a roundup of reports that we’ve confirmed.

Again, remember the number to report any voting irregularities or problems: 1-866-OUR-VOTE

Reports are coming in from across the country about problems with the new, paperless voting machines. In some localities, election officials were unable to get the machines started on time, resulting in long lines and people leaving to go to work. In at least one county, the courts have ordered the polls to stay open later to make up for these morning delays, and there are addiitonal requests pending before a number of other courts. Here are some of the problems which voters have encountered around the country. We will update you as we get confirmation of problems in other states.

Robo-Calls

In Virginia, ABC is reporting that the FBI has joined the investigation of intimidating pre-election robo-calls in that state, following an official complaint from the Webb campaign to the Justice Department. Action is being requested in VA to keep polls open late. <!-more-> As has been widely reported, over the last few days, Republican phone banks have flooded homes in as many as 30 Congressional Districts. The caller first mentions the Democratic candidate – but then criticizes the candidate. Voters hang up, thinking the call was generated by the Democrat, and the phone rings again. It is only reported at the end that the calls are sponsored by the NRCC.

Problems with Electronic Voting Machines

OH, IL, IN, FL, UT – Major problems with voting machines are being reported throughout the country including programming errors, lack of familiarity with the machines by election staff, malfunctioning machines, etc.

Glitches delayed balloting in dozens of Indiana and Ohio precincts, and Illinois officials were swamped with calls from voters complaining that poll workers did not know how to operate new electronic equipment.

Florida officials, working to avoid a repeat of the vote-counting debacle of 2000, fielded extra voting machines, paper ballots and poll workers. In the Jacksonville suburb of Orange Park, Florida, voters were forced to use paper ballots after an electronic machine broke. AP News report

IN – Voters in Delaware County were not able to cast votes in the morning because of machine problems at ALL precincts. A Court Order has been granted to keep the polls open until 8:40 pm – we have a copy of the court order. Story is being covered by 6News.

PA – Channel 4 Action News has received several reports of non-working machines in several areas of Allegheny County. Paper ballots were brought to some but not all precincts. Malfunctioning machines and voter confusion are prevailing in various precincts in Lancaster County as well.

FL – In Broward County 10 of 14 voter booths failed to work in District 23A and other Deerfield Beach voting locations.