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Computer glitch on elections site fixed
Board of elections officials are making sure people will receive the correct absentee ballot.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
DAYTON — A computer glitch found in the online absentee ballot application process at the Montgomery County Board of Elections Web site was fixed Monday, said board director Steve Harsman.
He said board of elections officials will make an extra effort to contact people whose ballot applications may be inaccurate so they can correct them.
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"Our process does work,'' said Harsman.
The glitch was discovered by voter Natalie Mauser-Carter, 21, a Butler Twp. resident who votes absentee because she is away at college.
When she attempted to apply for a ballot for the Democratic primary, the glitch caused the box marked "Democrat" to go blank on the application that needs printed out and signed to receive an absentee ballot. Persons listing no party affiliation can only vote on issues, not candidates, in the March 4 primary. Republican ballot applications were unaffected.
Harsman said about 25 online ballot applications had no party designation and another 98 were marked by hand. The board has 6,000 requests for absentee ballots and the board will begin mailing the ballots on Friday.
Harsman said the board normally calls or sends letters to people who have left the box blank and had already fixed five of the questionable applications using that procedure. He said board staff will contact the remaining voters to be sure they receive the correct ballot.
