Did early closures affect BOE outcome?
Saturday, April 23, 2005
By PHILIP SEAN CURRAN    Today's Sunbeam 

SALEM Two voting machines were turned off an hour early at a Salem polling station during the Tuesday school elections, city and election officials said this week.

One of the candidates for the Salem Board of Education who lost by a few votes, questioned whether the early closure played a role in her loss. 
 
Officials said Friday that the district worker in charge of the polling station, Ambrose Salinas, mistakenly thought polls closed at 8 p.m. instead of 9 p.m.

"He forgot they would stay open to 9 p.m.," said John Burke, a commissioner on the Salem County Board of Elections.

Salinas Friday directed all comment to the Board of Elections.

Officials said all election workers are instructed when polls open and close. The times also are printed on the sample ballot posted inside the polling place.

In this case, the polling place was the Liberty Fire Hall, located on the corner of Griffith and Fifth streets in the West Ward. Two voters who came after 8 p.m. were allowed to vote by using a provisional ballot, said Barbara A. Wright, city clerk.

Officials said a chief concern was that no one was denied the right to vote Tuesday. Based upon their review, they said they believe none were.

Officials met with district workers this week; one of the other workers was Salinas' wife, Amelia.

But the snafu has led a candidate for the board of education, Barbara A. Chrisden, to ask for a new election. She claimed the fire hall was closed at 8 p.m.

"This didn't give the late comers a chance to vote. I am asking that the votes be recalled and a new election be held," she wrote this week.

Chrisden finished fourth in the voting Tuesday behind one of the winners, Daffonie A. Moore. Moore received 155 votes to Chrisden's 150.

In reply, Joseph J. Dyer Sr., chairman of the Board of Elections, wrote to her that "at no time were any registered voters turned away from voting at the Liberty Fire House location."

He added that "a new election would not be required."