Making Georgia unsafe for democracy

In the days leading up to the March 2 presidential primary, critics had worried that Georgia’s paperless electronic ballots might undermine democracy. But as of Tuesday afternoon, as CL went to press, it appeared the real concern wasn’t over too little paper, but too much.

At polling places throughout metro Atlanta — and conceivably throughout the state — confusion over which voter certificates to fill out left some voters unable to choose a presidential candidate.

By 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April Pye at the Fulton County Department of Registration and Elections had received about 20 calls from angry voters. Spokesmen from both the John Kerry and John Edwards campaigns had also heard from frustrated citizens.

The problem centered around voter certificates — the forms voters are required to fill out before they receive the access cards that allow them to cast their ballot. Voters were supposed to fill out one of three forms — one for the Democratic primary, one for the Republican primary, or one for just the flag referendum. Unfortunately, both the Democratic and flag forms were white and looked very similar. Moreover, as Pye explained, poll workers are not allowed to direct voters to certain forms unless they’re asked. Essentially, that meant voters hoping to vote for Kerry or Edwards or any other Democratic candidate didn’t find out until they had already cast their ballot on the flag referendum that they had filled out the wrong form. By then, it was too late.

“It has been confusing,” Pye said. “I understand their frustrations.”

Artis Hill of Atlanta was one such voter.

“I’m very upset,” she said. “I was denied my right to vote.”






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