Local Voters Report Few Hiccups at Voting Centers

For the most part things have gone well for local voters at new voting centers according to comments on Pasadena Now’s Facebook page.

“It was super easy at Victory Park where I voted today,” said Shoshana Rosenbaum. “Poll workers were very helpful, and made sure to explain that the ballot would print out, and that it would go back into the machine once I was done. New system seemed to work great!”

Jann Lacoss posted that although she liked the new system she did require some help.

“It was easy to a point,” she wrote. “When it came time to turn in the ballot, I didn’t realize that I had to feed the ballot back into the printer. According to the poll worker who helped me, several people had the same issue. So be sure to feed the printed ballot back in to the printer! [We’ve been conditioned to turn our ballots in with the ink-a-dot system]. Other than that, I really like the new system!”

The new ballot-marking machines use computer tablets. Under the new system, voters can pre-select their choice using an app at home, take it to a voting center and use a code to print and double-check their ballot.

Under the new system, voters can vote anywhere in the county, register to vote or change voter registration the day of the election.

The new system has created some hiccups though.

At 10:30 a.m on Saturday, at the Hollywood Bowl voting center, the staff closed and locked the doors and some voters said they got turned away. Earlier, voters were able to cast their ballots before the problems arose.

The Alhambra Civic Center Library had some issues, volunteers said, but got them resolved and opened by mid-morning.

But although local voters did not post many problems, almost all of them said they did not encounter crowds at local voting centers.

“Excellent!” said Katie Aicher of her experience. “The people at the Eaton Canyon voting location were helpful and informative. And no lines. They even provided reserved parking spaces just for voters.”

Photos sent to Pasadena Now showed one voting center completely empty on Sunday afternoon, which could mean that there could be a flood of voters hitting voting centers on Super Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the L.A. County Registrar’s Office said vote reporting may not be completed until early March 4.