Craven studies election changes
December 23,2004
Sue Book
New Bern Sun Journal Staff

Craven commissioners were assured of the accuracy of the 2004 election returns as the county elections director outlined problems encountered and remedies to prevent their reoccurrence.

The election changes will certainly involve some smaller precincts to reduce the wait time for voters, will probably involve new electronic voting machines and could require increased elections office staff, particularly technical assistance, Director Tiffiney Miller told the board Wednesday.

During her presentation, Miller outlined results, issues and recommendations for commissioners. She said the main problem occurred because of expanded one-stop early voting and the resulting 15,000 absentee ballots.

Because there were multiple locations and multiple personal election ballot (PEB) counters, tallies were skewed in early counting, incorrectly showing that incumbent Leon Staton had lost his District 5 commissioner seat to Tony Michalek.

The problem was corrected during the official vote canvass.

"This will not happen in future elections," Miller assured the board. "We have found ways to prevent this from ever happening again."

Staton had quick praise for Miller and her staff, sentiment voiced by other commissioners and the board of elections as well.

Miller said her staff will receive manufacturer-sponsored training on the Unity software used here to avoid other problems that can be created by operator error.

The state is already looking into new electronic voting machines. Electronic Systems and Software Inc. had not previously offered training for the equipment purchased in 1998 until between the July primary and November election when the staff was too busy to participate.

By law, absentee ballots can not be counted until 2 p.m. Election Day, a time when elections staff are already very busy, she said. She and other directors across the state are recommending the law be changed to allow the count to begin earlier in view of the popularity of One-Stop voting.

"One of the main complaints we received were from voters who did not have to show identification," said Miller. "This was the first year that voters who registered by mail had to show identification if it wasn't provided on the application."

State laws do not otherwise require any identification before voting.

She said the board received one formal complaint from Michalek and held a fact-finding hearing. Grounds for a formal hearing were not found, but the board will "look at issues brought to their attention by this complaint," including changing the Election Day entrance to Godette Community Center for non-voters.

Storage space and technical assistance are also concerns Miller asked the county to address in the coming year.