Double Check Your Ballots on Election Day

Problems are beginning to arise with voting machines in Ohio. On election day, it is very important that you double check your ballots.

In Marion County, Joan Stevens went to vote early. As she tried to cast her vote for Mitt Romney on the electronic touch screen, Barack Obama's name lit up. It took Ms. Stevens three tries before her vote for Mitt Romney was accurately recorded.

Ms. Stevens informed a board of elections member, Jackie Smith, of the irregularity. Ms. Smith mentioned to Joan Stevens that the machine had been having problems all day. Joan Stevens also informed Sophia Rogers, the director of the board of elections for Marion County.

This problem with the machine could be a simple calibration issue. Ms. Rogers took the appropriate step and had the machine recalibrated. In a similar instance in North Carolina, elections officials had the machine inspected and recalibrated, according to FoxNews.

Ohio and North Carolina are not alone in voting machine irregularity issues. Today, the Republican National Committee has sent a letter to election officials in 6 states - Nevada, Ohio, Kansas, North Carolina, Missouri and Colorado to do the following:

1. Re-calibrate all voting machines on the morning of Election Day before the polls open, or, if necessary, the day before the election.


2. Make arrangements for additional technicians on Election Day in case of increased calibration problems.


3. Issue guidance requiring polling place officials to prominently post a sign reminding voters to double-check that the voting machine properly recorded their vote before final submission.   This sign should also note that poll workers should be notified and can assist in the case of a voting machine error.


4. Issue guidance requiring polling place officials to remind voters to double-check that the voting machine properly recorded their vote before final submission, and to note that poll workers should be notified and can assist in the case of a voting machine error.

Please double check your ballot before you vote. If you notice any irregularity, notify the board of elections officials! And, if you are uncomfortable voting with the electronic voting machine, you can always request a paper ballot.

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