Voting-machine malfunctions crop up at some polling places (NJ)
by The Star-Ledger Continuous News Desk. November 04, 2008.

Would-be voters and poll officials report a few cases of voting-machine malfunctions across the state.

Voters arriving at Conklin Hall near the Rutgers-Newark campus were thwarted this morning by two malfunctioning voting machines. Voters said they were told the machine would have to be replaced and to come back later.

"This is upsetting," said Eric Benson, 37. "You thought they would have been prepared."

One of the three voting machines also malfunctioned at George Washington Carver elementary school on Newark, said James Robinson, a poll judge at the site. During the malfunction about 50 people were asked to vote on paper ballots.

The machine was fixed and is back in service, he said.

Voters needed to use paper ballots because of mechanical problems with electronic voting machines in Willingboro. Burlington County Elections Superintendent Joanne Nyikita said replacement machines were shipped to the polling place and are working.

Nyikita said there have been some delays because election workers were not activitating the machines.