Vote Monitor 2008
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Thank you for helping us document the 2008 presidential election! An unprecedented outpouring of voters turned out to cast ballots this year, prompting concerns that election officials weren't fully prepared for the crush. But while the high turnout brought long lines at polling sites from southeastern Virginia to Arizona, reports of problems -- machine malfunctions, faulty registration lists, deceptive text-messages and other high-tech efforts to deter young people and minorities from casting ballots -- were sporadic. Browse Vote Monitor 2008 for voting reports from Washington Post readers.
Top Reports
02140: Registration Issue
Had been dropped from rolls, even though I voted last cycle. Several long-term residents near me had also been dropped. After some confusion, the poll workers got new instructions to record our names & addresses and give us ballots. The line was 20 mins when we arrived at 7:50 and 20 mins when we left. Read More »
20895: Other
I was there at 6:45 this morning and there were already a good 80-100 people in front of me. Waited about an hour, was out by 7:50, but there were a couple of hundred people behind me and more coming in as I left. Read More »
23233: Access Issue
We live in Mexico and requested ballot online but still had to send the signed copy in. Kind of defeats the purpose! Consulate here was great help at getting our vote back to VA. Read More »
20852: Electioneering/Intimidation
Democrat Electioneering too close to line Read More »
94610: Registration Issue
Voted with provisional ballot b/c they could not locate my name. Later returned to polling location. Name found. Should not have had to vote with a provisional ballot. Very upsetting, particularly during such a historic election. Wrote letter to local registrar of voters here in Alameda County. Polling location also not that organized. People sat at tables right next to each other, no privacy. Never seen that before anywhere. I sure do miss DC. Read More »
30066: Other
"Adventure Voting--First in Line at The Polls"This morning my 16-year old daughter and I arrived at the polls at 5 a.m. EST complete with camping chairs, books and coffee to await the 7 a.m. poll opening.We were the first in line, and as my high schooler, who had proudly done her homework on the issues and the candidates, once again observed the voting process, I knew the cold, long wait had been an adventure she would always remember. Read More »
20009: Other
I had requested an absentee ballot. I sent an application form on the last day. I did not receive it in the mail by November 3rd. So, I voted by Special Ballot at Judiciary Square. I was told to return the unopened absentee ballot whenever it arrived. However, it still has not arrived on November 4th. I hope that my vote will count. Read More »
46234: Other
Overall good, with more people voting (yea!); however, the voting machine was broken since before opening which unnerved more than a few voters. Votes will be scanned in later. A few years ago, I was the 11th person to vote a few hours after the polls had opened. This year, more than 100 folks had voted before me in the same time period! Exciting! Read More »
59911: Registration Issue
Not clear what the real issue was, but I wasn't on the list though I registered twice. Read More »
27101: Identification Issue
I was in around 6:35 and out by 7:10. So no issues as far as a long wait time. However, I noticed none of the volunteers were asking to see voter registration cards/ID. I should have said, "So I'm to understand that anyone could have given my name and simply answered "Uh huh" when you TOLD ME my address, then walked over and voted using my name?" Read More »
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Backtrack through our Election Day log of voting news, problems and resources.
All User Vote Reports
» BY TYPE: Access Issue (6) | Electioneering/Intimidation (3) | Location Issue (6) | Identification Issue (14) | Registration Issue (13) | Voting Glitch (6) | Other (34) | No Voting Issue (339)
Latest User Reports
» SEE ALL: By State | By Incident
77546: No Voting Issue
The volunteers were friendly and helpful. The process took only 20 minutes which I thought was exceptional since I was voting late in the day on Tuesday. Read More »
92253: Registration Issue
When I got to polling location, was not on list. Voting official called registration headquarters and found I was not among the registered even though I have been registered in CA since 2001 and have not moved in past 6 years. Voted in every election since 2001. Read More »
92154: No Voting Issue
Very calm, no crowds or voting issues. Yet walking into the polling place was one of the most profound and significant moments, for me, as a registered American voter. My eyes actually welled-up with tears when I was marking my ballot. Read More »
78029: Registration Issue
No real problem beyond them having trouble finding my name on the registered voter list, and a few dirty looks from some people because I voted Democrat in a heavily Republican area and made no secret of it. Read More »
23114: No Voting Issue
arrived at 5:45 am, was out by 6:25 am, I was voter number 174. It was easy even with the rain! Two of my three sons voted with their father and I. We were so proud of them. Read More »
59911: Registration Issue
Not clear what the real issue was, but I wasn't on the list though I registered twice. Read More »
20171: Other
Not an issue, as much as a concern. I used one of VA's new paper ballot / scanners. I'm not impressed. The scanner gives no indication that it counted the ballot, nor that it counted it correctly. Also, the machines apparently do not record red, but there were no instructions that said NOT to use red ink or pencil. Read More »
20009: Other
My experience: A polling official interrupted the process to introduce an elderly African-American woman voting for her first time at age 95. The room exploded into applause. Amazing and perhaps telling of this election. Read More »
85722: No Voting Issue
I voted by mail and it was awesome! I sat at my desk at work and researched all the candidates and propositions and made an informed decision. Read More »
20002: No Voting Issue
The poll workers were doing a great job and should be recognized. They were processing a lot a people in a reasonable amount of time given the turnout. Read More »
» SEE ALL: By State | By Incident
News Reports
» ALL REPORTS: Washington Post Investigations
» ON TWITTER: PostVoteMonitor
'Breathtaking' Numbers of Americans Flood the Polls
An unprecedented outpouring of voters translated into waits of several hours today at polling sites from southeastern Virginia to Arizona, amid sporadic reports around the country of voting machine malfunctions, faulty registration lists and deceptive text-messages and other high-tech efforts to deter young people and minorities from casting ballots. (Washington Post) Read More »
Amish Voters Prefer Paper Ballots
State: Ohio
A spokesman for Ohio's Trumbull County Board of Elections said that most voters preferred using touch-screen voting machines to paper ballots, with one exception: Amish voters. Poll workers in Farmington Township, where a large percentage of Amish residents vote, reported that Amish voters chose to use paper ballots in fairly large quantities. (Youngstown Vindicator) Read More »
California Voters Face Few Problems
State: California
California voters faced few problems at the polls today, despite isolated cases of power outages and fear of some ballot shortages in what election officials predict will be a record-breaking turnout. The California secretary of state's office did not receive reports of voting problems besides the power outages in Los Angeles and poll workers who overslept. Record-breaking voter registration pushed officials to add precincts and poll workers and order more ballots to meet the expected demand. ( Read More »
Reports of Deceptive Robocalls Hit Several States
While voting on the whole has gone fairly smoothly (despite some long lines and a few glitches), several parts of the country have been dealing with a flurry of last-minute reports of robocalls and robotexts meant to confuse voters. Read More »
Longest Wait Time Yet?
State: Virginia
A voter in Chesapeake, Va., waited in line for more than 7 hours, slightly more than the extraordinary 6 1/2-hour wait times in the suburbs of St. Louis, according to Election Protection. The voter apparently was at the Dr. Clarence V. Cuffee Community Center, which has about 1,000 people waiting in line when voting machines went down today. Voting machines are now back up and running and, as of 5 p.m., the wait was about 90 minutes. (Virginian-Pilot) Read More »
Three 'Voter Suppression' Cases in Va.
State: Virginia
State police are investigating at least three cases of possible voter suppression at election sites across Virginia. The cases were reported in the city of Richmond, Fairfax County and Fauquier County. One case was concerning the "over presentation of law enforcement" at a polling place; another case involved the playing of a "loud" recording of right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh within 300 feet of a precinct. (CNN) Read More »
» ALL REPORTS: Washington Post Investigations
» ON TWITTER: PostVoteMonitor
