Changes made by the registrars of voters after problems with long lines in the 2012 election successfully addressed problems, the registrars reported recently. There were “no major issues” in November’s voting, registrars said. Two years ago, the registrars office came under fire for not being prepared for the last presidential election when voters were forced to wait in line for hours.
That was the first election after 10 precincts had been consolidated into eight, with polling places at Washington and Nathan Hale schools dropped to reflect shifting legislative district boundaries.
Voters at Manchester High School’s polling place waited as long as two hours, leading the Board of Directors to ask the registrars to fix the problems. This election there were additional workers, more check-in tables, and better preparation and training. That kept the lines moving quickly and smoothly throughout the day, Democrat Registrar James R. Stevenson and Republican Registrar Timothy H. Becker both said.
In all, 16,617 voters, or 61 percent of those registered, cast ballots here on Election Day this year, Stevenson said. That included 775 absentee ballots that were processed and counted as well as 271 Election Day registrations and voting completed at a separate location. Turnout was “right on the mark,” he said, not higher or lower than previous state election years.
This was the first state election for same day registration and voting, and the first election where a separate location, the town Senior Center, was used for that purpose.
Full Article: More workers, training helped avoid delays in voting, registrars say – Journal Inquirer: Page One.