We've seen problems at polling places throughout this year's primary season, caused in part by an election apparatus unprepared for the onslaught of new voters and energized existing voters that have fueled record primary turnouts across the country. We should expect a similar huge turnout in Pennsylvania , where a record number of voters registered for the state's primary, including 150,000 new Democratic voters. Can Pennsylvania handle the onslaught of voters on Tuesday?
In doing a little research, I've come across several potential problems that could arise in Pennsylvania's primary, and what the state is doing to prepare for them.
1. Voters With No ID
Apparently one of the biggest concerns for PA officials on election day is that many people who have never voted before will not know that they need to bring a valid ID with them. The state's voter ID law, which went into effect in 2004, requires all first-time voters and people voting in a new precinct to produce a valid ID:
Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Philadelphia, chairwoman of the House State Government Committee, said ignorance of the rules may end up disenfranchising some of the more than 156,000 people who have signed up as new voters since the start of the year.
"I'm worried about it a lot, because they don't know," Josephs said after a two-hour hearing in Harrisburg on Thursday that examined Pennsylvania's readiness for what is expected to be a high-turnout primary on April 22.
People trying to vote without identification will be given the chance to get their IDs and return to their polling places. If that is not practical, they can fill out provisional ballots, but will still have to later produce valid ID in order for their vote to count.
The Pennsylvania Department of State's website — www.VotesPA.com — lists the types of ID allowed, which include a Pennsylvania driver’s license and a student or employee ID with a photo. Acceptable non-photo ID must have a name and address, such as a current utility bill or current paycheck.
It's imperative, then, that the word gets out to all Obama supporters to bring a valid ID if they are first-time voters or are voting in a new precinct. To avoid any potential problems, it wouldn't hurt for all voters to bring a valid ID just in case.
2. Voters Not in Poll Books
State officials have recognized that another potential problem is that Pennsylvania's huge influx of new voters has created a computer bottleneck, and election officials might not be able to get all new voters approved by the state in time for inclusion in the poll books, which are used by precinct officials to confirm that voters are registered:
Doug Hill, executive director of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, said the state's computer system is currently operating close to capacity, and it has been taking at least three days to process a registration change.
Hill said deadlines are approaching for counties to print the election books, and it is unclear how many - if any - registrations will not be processed in time
If a voter's name doesn't appear in the poll book, Common Cause advises voters to ask poll workers to check supplemental voting lists that are sometimes printed up after the main poll books are printed, and ask the poll workers to call the county board of elections. As a last resort he or she should ask to vote on a provisional ballot.
3. Voters in Wrong Precincts
Another common voting problem, particularly with new voters, is that voters show up at the wrong precinct to vote. However, one advantage for Pennsylvania voters is that if they show up at the wrong precinct their vote can still count as long as they cast their vote anywhere in the correct county, even if they are at the wrong precinct in their county. To have their vote count, they need to complete a provisional ballot and have the correct ID.
4. Not Enough Ballots
As you can see from the above points, provisional ballots could play a key role in the Pennsylvania primary, so it will be critical that there are enough ballots available at all polling locations. But this year some states, such as Ohio, have run out of ballots because of the huge turnout.
But Pennsylvania election officials claim that won't be a problem for them. Unlike Ohio and many other states, Pennsylvania's primary is closed, which should make it easier to estimate the number of ballots that will be needed:
Allegheny County's election director, Mark Wolosik, said (the closed primary) makes it easier to estimate turnout.
"You can't cross over in Pennsylvania, so there shouldn't be an issue of shortages of ballots," he said.
But four years ago, a huge turnout for the presidential election caused long lines in Pittsburgh and some polling places ran out of ballots.
In other words, just because the closed primary SHOULD make it easer for election officials to estimate the number of provisional ballots that will be needed, that doesn't mean it WILL happen.
5. Problems With Voting Machines
Of course, one thing that could cause an unexpected increase in the need for provisional ballots would be unexpected problems with voting machines. Jacob Soboroff over at Huffington Post notes that two PA counties will use the same Sequoia AVC Advantage touchscreen machines that malfunctioned in the New Jersey primary. Badabing's diary notes some additional potential problems with Pennsylvania's voting machines, including their lack of a paper trail.
I won't go into any further detail about the myriad potential problems with these machines. But the important thing for PA votes to know, acccording to Common Cause, is that if a voter is at a polling place where voting machines have broken down or failed to start up, he or she should not just leave but instead request an emergency paper ballot to vote.
6. Voters Arriving Near Closing Time
Another problem that has caused confusion with elections in recent years, particularly when there is high turnout, is that people have arrived before the poll closing time, but due to large lines they were turned away because they could not get in the door by the closing time.
Pennsylvania's polls close at 8:00 p.m., and state law requires all voters who arrive at the polls before closing time be allowed to vote, no matter how long the line is or how long it takes. State officials say they are prepared to enforce this law:
Voters arriving late to the polls on Election Day will be able to cast ballots as long as they get in line before the 8:00 p.m. closing time.
Pennsylvania Department of State policy says the local judge of elections will stand at the end of the line or send a poll worker in his or her place at closing time, said agency spokeswoman Rebecca Halton.
Everyone in front of that individual will get to vote eventually.
Voters need to be aware of this law, and know that they can't be turned away if they arrive before 8:00.
Voters who experience problems at their polling location should call Pennsylvania's voter hotline: 1-877-VOTES-PA (1-877-868-3772) and/or the Common Cause national election protection line: 1-866-OUR VOTE.