By james art JACKSON, TN. – With just a week to go until the general election, an organization is expressing concern over voting complaints.
“We have received numerous complaints about voting machines changing the result from what they intended. We understand that there are voting mistakes and people make mistakes and we wanted to come today to remind people that voting is important and we have over 35,000 people who have not yet voted in Madison County,” said Harrell Carter, president of the Jackson- Madison County branch of the NAACP.
Carter said his organization and others have received complaints this election season. Voters said the new touchscreen voting machines were an adjustment for some voters. On the screen, voters tried to select the box in the upper left corner instead of clicking on their candidate’s name.
“The problem is, once what you’ve voted for is shown on the screen, we have to look at it and then print it. You have to look at it again, look at it again, because if it’s going to change, you’re going to see it on your ballot,” Carter said.
Voting stations provide voters with a stylus to help them vote. Carter is asking those who didn’t vote to double-check their decisions so they like it. Once your vote has been placed on the ballot, there is no re-voting.
He also asks motorists and voters to be careful when driving in the parking lot.
“There was an accident here last week. A young man named Trey Cleek was run over by someone going the wrong way. For years we have asked the commission to expand polling places. We have over 64,000 or 65,000 voters in Madison County, one seat just isn’t enough,” Carter said.
He also shared that he had asked Administrator of Elections Lori Lott to speak at the press conference. However, Lott expressed his focus on the polls as Madison County tries to break a record this voting season.
Thursday, October 31 will be the last day of early voting.
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