Dallas (WBAP/KLIF) – Early voters in Dallas and Tarrant counties are reporting problems at the polls, as they try to cast their votes. In some cases, people casting straight party ticket ballots say their choice for president registers the opposite of what they wanted. Others have said their ballot was correct, with the exception of the vote for president, which comes up blank.
Dallas County Elections Administrator Toni Pippins-Poole says she’s heard of some problems, most of them dealing with touch screen machines.
“We’ve had instances where voters are maybe having an issue with a particular machine,” said Pippens-Poole. “Because, as you know, touch screens have to be calibrated.”
Pippens-Poole says if the screens are dirty or smudged, or even if a shirt or jacket brushes against the screen, it can cause a false vote. Also, if you don’t touch the name of the candidate you want precisely, your finger could accidentally stray into the other candidate’s field, and register a vote for them.
She says it’s up to each voter to review their summary before submitting their final vote. If there’s a problem on the summary, let a poll worker know. If the machine isn’t calibrated properly, they can move you to another machine to cast your vote.
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