(CNN) - Philadelphia has experienced problems with voting machines not working in eight of 1,681 election divisions throughout the city, according to Bill Rubin, Supervisor of the Philadelphia County Board of Elections.
Rubin reported none of these problems have been serious, and where machines have gone down, voters have been allowed to vote on emergency ballots.
He says these emergency ballots are the same forms as provisional ballots, but are marked with an "EB" to indicate they are emergency ballots, and they will be counted just as if they were votes recorded on a machine. In contrast, provisional ballots are given to those voters whose registrations cannot be confirmed in the poll book, or who have gone to the wrong voting division.
Rubin said some of the problems with voting machines may be a result of poll workers forgetting their training. He says in some cases poll workers received training some time ago, and may have forgotten parts of it by election day, leading them to start the voting machines incorrectly.
From CNN Politics
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Keep it honest Pennsylvania. Don't become the Florida of 2008.
Get it right.
Obama/Biden '08
Oh boy... here it comes. Obama needs big numbers in Philly and the surrounding areas to carry Pennsylvania. Please get these problems fixed so everyone can vote!
Why do the Republicans continue to steal election?
VOTE McCain*Palin!!!!!
This is the same Philly that removed Republican poll watchers for nothing more than being Republicans. Ever notice all of the problems always occur in Democrat areas run and controlled by Democrats?
Well, I am not surprised .......ONLY dismayed that in the wealthiest, MOST powerful country in the world...... the bastion of Democracy this IS happening!
For Pete's sake, CAN'T WE GET THIS RIGHT?!
Kiss your Land of Liberty good-bye with a vote for Obama. He is not a Patriot!!!
I hope that ALL people responsible for seeing that the election is fair and truly democratic will do their job – FOR AMERICA and DEMOCRACY! Anything less undermines what we supposedly stand for!!
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING STILL?! ARE WE THAT TECHNOLOGICALLY CHALLENGED OR ARE THE REPUBLICANS THAT DESPERATE?
I know right? Why do they keep saying ...and what happens if it's a tie?
Pleezzzzze Lord...watch the store house because there are wolves out there.
So that's what McCain meant when he said that he WILL win the election today! Hmmmmm
This is typical of Philadelphia. Their election system and most of its workers are corrupt (its "traditional" in Philadelphia to pay workers at the polls and to hand out cash on the street corners to get people to vote.)
Also, the polls are overwhelmed and PA, one of the largests states has no early voting – because the legislation has been lobbied against by the same "unpaid" volunteers.
FYI – I am a Democrat who vote for Obama at 7:00 am this morning in a Philadelphia suburb
Ugh, what a mess!
" November 4th, 2008 11:08 am ET
Why do the Republicans continue to steal election?"
OMG its such a conspiracy, repubs always steal elections!!!
I'm really getting tired of the general "republicans are dishonest people arguement". I'm a registered repub and im a completely normal person. The only difference between you and I is that I dont believe every crap conspiracy theory that comes pouring our of some radicals mouth.... Do a little research for yourself rather than believing all the BS someone else fed you.
Cheating is the only way they can (Reps)can win. I voted in the Pittsburgh area without any problems. Only had to wait in line for about 45 minutes. – I voted for Obama and wore my CNN headline shirt which says- Palin killed bridge, but kept money, I just saw it on CNN.com
WOW – amazing how there's no problems with any machines in the suburban or rural areas on Pennsylvania. How ironic that the machines don't work where Barack would probably get the most votes. Interseting....VERY interesting...
Is the name Diebold anywhere on these machines?
It's always someone elses fault isnt it.
Every official needs to stay on this... IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED!
Someone needs to make certain that those Emergency Ballots ARE NOT TRASHED.
If McCain/Palin gets Philadelphia's votes, THEN WE KNOW THAT SOMETHING IS ROTTEN!
Make sure you watch them mark that EB on your ballot before you walk away!!!
We voted in Philly at 9, after two hours in line. The girls were well trained, helpful and efficient. The line was around the block because we were only allotted THREE machines! But I don't care, it was amazing. An elderly lady exited crying because she never dreamed of voting for a Black candidate. I allowed my son to select Obama/Biden before I submitted my vote. We made history today!
Can't you read? (see the article) – "Rubin said some of the problems with voting machines may be a result of poll workers forgetting their training. He says in some cases poll workers received training some time ago, and may have forgotten parts of it by election day, leading them to start the voting machines incorrectly."
Nobody is stealing anything. Your car not start because of mechanical failure or user error? Ever run out of gas? Can you tell me from memory how to program your DVR? Poll workers only see these machines a couple time every few years. Stop blaming the republicans for all the 'problems' in the world. Most of them probally started a little closer to your home.
are you guys going crazy in USA ( let's say Goodbye to Yankees then and all american history) voting for obama we in europe say it's normal because the white americans aren't the real american and it seems to be true!!!! is good that un black man can hope to be a president that's a good evolution but an african musulman .... i' mean it's america or not???
anyway the best man will win!!!
Wow. Ridiculous.
Maybe if they forget their training they should be...um...RETRAINED?! or FIRED?!
Christ almighty....
Battleground States with voting problems:
1)North Carolina
2)Virginia
3)Indiana
4)Flordia
5)Pennsylvania
The list continues to grow...
Get out and vote if you haven't already done so. Leave nothing to chance or fraud. If the votes are overwhelming then they can't cheat their way into the White House.
gObama!
Because they have to
Only 8 divisions out of 1,681 and they were allowed to vote on emergency ballots which are, as the article states, counted as identical to a normal vote? Meanwhile it suggests that these problems are due to incompetent election workers.
How are they stealing it, again?
My coworker and I were just talking about this issue and it's just mighty strange how in certain communities these machines are not working for a major election like this. What's going to be next? The emergency ballots that are being used just magically diappears? This is ridiculous.
It could just be coincidence but it sure does seem like there are always much more voting issues in areas where the democrats really need large turn-out. I'd be suspicious
I want CNN to analyze the likely party affiliations in these problem precincts across the country. Every headline phot I have see shows a line full of voters of color (typically democratic). Let's get some data on this.
The Dems control Philadelphia. If they can not train their people to work the machines then shame on them.
I am glad I voted. As a first time voter, it was a great deal for me to elect the REAL agent of CHANGE.
God please don't let the bad men steal the election. Help America move towards the correct path. Reprogram the voting machines to work correctly so obama wins his 538 electoral votes as he so justly deserves.
Hey repub, the world is watchng dont u dare steal by any chance.
There are several reasons a person can steal votes,,, Number 1: a computer does what someone has programmed it to do. Example of this is include what i have heard from several voters here in Pine Bluff " I picked Barack Obama for president and It said John McCain how is this possible?" Well lucky for us that this is just a few people saying this. But what if this was happening everywhere??? I looked on the internet and i found out that this is happening in other locations as well, ie Ohio,,, West Virginia also, there is a voter on YouTube with a video stating this same scenario. Now how can people in different states experience the same problems??? Talk about things that make you go hmmmmmmmm.
Philadelphians, please stay strong and determined. Don;'t let tricksters a.k.a Republicans cheat you of your RIGHT to choose the ONE
Funny how it's only in battle ground states or heavy African American areas.... When will this madness end? This is criminal!
Because most Republicans of them are Robin Hood in reverse.
How is it that a mighty country like the US – that millions throughout the world look up to – can't get their voting systems working ?
It seems to happen every four years !
the only time the UK had any real problems was when postal votes were introduced – which led to fraud.
but turn up to a Voting Station in person – and you don't wait at all !
---
hope the election is seen as FAIR !
Republican Logo: By hook or by Crook. Its so clear now that they cant win by being honest and the sad thing even when we find out they cheated, citizens cant do anyhting except to suffer 4 yrs. Sad news
not another republican coup please!!!!!!!!!!!
I am just outside Philly, my wait was about 45 minutes, there was a power failure at my polling location which delayed us for a bit. Other than that everything was great.
Because they're shiesty.
Good grief, what are these people doing working an election if they cannot remember how to work the machnes? Great way to have this drag on for 2 or 3 days longer than it should!
"Steal" and "fraud" are terms being used by the Obama supporters to describe this election. Look in the mirror...PLEASE! Can anyone possibly review the ACORN episodes that have taken place. The national concern on this revolves around your illegitimate efforts to get a higher turn-out to the voting booths to elect a guy that stands behind partial-birth abortion, and who maintained a very intimate personal/spiritual relationship with Rev. Wright for years...UNTIL HE DECIDEDTO RUN FOR PRESIDENT! You liberals are an absolute joke and a disgrace.
You would think after all the problems incurred with electronic voting machines in the past, the election this year would go much smoother. However, once again, problems with electronic voting machines are being reported. Please do not let these minor problems disuade you from exercising your right to vote! No excuses, people! Get out there and VOTE!!!
As another interested Canadian and having read about numerous problems at the polls already this morning, I'm left wondering why the U,.S. turns into a third world country every four years. Surely voting systems should be designed to handle heavy turnouts.
ALEX SHOULD BE A POLL WORKER
so amamzing that we see any posts of these things happening during early voting?? if you must – get a provisional ballot.
In one of the largest democracies in the world the voting system is broken... I hope the first thing the Democrats do is election reform.
What a joke !
The Republicans have put in place a broken system that facilitates elections in the regions of the country where they are ahead and makes the voting experience horrible in the regions of the country where they don't have a chance !