Some Montgomery Ballots Mishandled

Each ballot was cast and counted, adding up to 41 percent of registered voters in the state.

A number Secretary of State Jim Bennett says was a bit lower than even he anticipated. 

 

“We had predicted as high as 48, but there was just too little interest in the races at the top,” said Bennett.

 

Soon after the polls closed, the Alabama Republican Party sent out a statement claiming two of Montgomery’s largest polling locations had severely mishandled ballots. It says voters received the wrong ballot. 

 

Alabama GOP chairman Bill Armistead said, “These Democrat and Republican candidates alike have worked for many months to get to today, only to see their hard work result in a travesty. And, voters were denied the right to vote for the candidate of their choice.”

 

Montgomery Probate Judge Steven Reed said he took the claims very seriously, but only found problems at one precinct, the Newtown Church of Christ.

 

“We did find evidence at one precinct where 128 people got the wrong ballot. That particular precinct there was a ballot split between two ballots and they were just given the same ballot,” said Judge Reed.

 

Reed says the problem was likely caused by the new district lines for the state house and the problem was fixed before 3 o’clock on election day. Even though there was an issue, Reed wants Armistead to be careful before jumping to conclusions.

 

“I think the party leadership has to be careful not to lose credibility coming off unstable and uninformed.I think before you go and put out a press release you should check the facts first. Because when you highlight a matter you aren’t sure about, it really shines on the particular party chairman, so I was somewhat disappointed by that,” said Reed.