FAST FACTS:
danya.bacchus@wreg.com
(Memphis 08/06/2010) Lucie Roane is just one of hundreds of people told their ballot was already cast in Thursday's election, "When I went to my polling place to vote, once they had my identification, I was told that I already voted. They said my husband and I had voted early and I said no, mistake, my husband voted early but I had not voted early."
The confusion was experienced by voters of both parties, the main reason why Democrats have decided to contest the election and are calling for a federal investigation.
"It's about the process. We've had several problems with these Diebold machines and their acting as if everything is ok," said Shelby County Democratic Party Chair, Van Turner.
"What it appears to me is Mr. Turner's party got spanked in the election yesterday and their looking for somebody now to blame it on and we're easy pickings," said Shelby County Election Chair Bill Giannini.
Turner disagrees. He says it's about making sure everyone's voice is heard during an election.
"The fact that the Democrats lost and we're sore losers that's not the case. The problems were not resolved after 2006, we still see them in 2010," said Turner.
Giannini says the problems with Thursday's election were resolved quickly and anyone told they had already voted were allowed to cast a provisional ballot.
He says there were 210 provisional ballots, which means less than the 3,000 initially predicted were affected.
Turner believes the number is much higher, "That's really haphazard and ridiculous for Giannini to throw out a number such as 3,000 then say it was 200. He doesn't know. It's going to be a 100 tomorrow."
"I have no fear whatsoever of an investigation by any agency, local, state or federal," said Giannini.
Democrats are also asking the Election Commission and Republican party to stand with them in asking the State General Assembly to repeal the Diebold machines for the November election.
Giannini says the machines were never the issue in this election.
- Shelby County Democrats Will Contest Election
- Chair of Party Says It Is About Integrity Of Process
- Election Commission Chair Says It Is About Politics
danya.bacchus@wreg.com
(Memphis 08/06/2010) Lucie Roane is just one of hundreds of people told their ballot was already cast in Thursday's election, "When I went to my polling place to vote, once they had my identification, I was told that I already voted. They said my husband and I had voted early and I said no, mistake, my husband voted early but I had not voted early."
The confusion was experienced by voters of both parties, the main reason why Democrats have decided to contest the election and are calling for a federal investigation.
"It's about the process. We've had several problems with these Diebold machines and their acting as if everything is ok," said Shelby County Democratic Party Chair, Van Turner.
"What it appears to me is Mr. Turner's party got spanked in the election yesterday and their looking for somebody now to blame it on and we're easy pickings," said Shelby County Election Chair Bill Giannini.
Turner disagrees. He says it's about making sure everyone's voice is heard during an election.
"The fact that the Democrats lost and we're sore losers that's not the case. The problems were not resolved after 2006, we still see them in 2010," said Turner.
Giannini says the problems with Thursday's election were resolved quickly and anyone told they had already voted were allowed to cast a provisional ballot.
He says there were 210 provisional ballots, which means less than the 3,000 initially predicted were affected.
Turner believes the number is much higher, "That's really haphazard and ridiculous for Giannini to throw out a number such as 3,000 then say it was 200. He doesn't know. It's going to be a 100 tomorrow."
"I have no fear whatsoever of an investigation by any agency, local, state or federal," said Giannini.
Democrats are also asking the Election Commission and Republican party to stand with them in asking the State General Assembly to repeal the Diebold machines for the November election.
Giannini says the machines were never the issue in this election.
