All, we're getting reports here in Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Raleigh (which are base areas for us, e.g. anti-Amendment 1) of precincts handing out INCORRECT ballots. In North Carolina, 17-year-olds can vote in the statewide primary (e.g., for governor, etc.) if they turn 18 by November 6th. However, they CANNOT vote on Amendment 1 in this primary -- they can only vote for candidates -- therefore they are being handed ballots WITHOUT Amendment 1. That is proper election procedure.



The problem is, the reports we are getting are that people OVER 17 are also being handed these ballots WITHOUT Amendment 1 in what would normally be heavily anti-Amendment 1 precincts (Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Raleigh). We are working on testimonials from voters who have experienced this -- in the meantime, if you report on Amendment 1, PLEASE ask readers to call 1-866-OUR-VOTE if they experience this in NC, or know someone who did. That will enable the campaign's field team to investigate and correct this as soon as possible.

UPDATE:

The polls have only been opened for a few hours and already the Courage Campaign has a report on possible election fraud. Via Adam Bink:Call the above number if you get the wrong ballot.The local NC press has picked up the ballot story.

Voters in Forsyth County complained today that they were given a wrong ballot – one that did not give them the option to vote on the proposed constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage, election officials said. Rob Coffman, the director of the county board of elections, said that the ballot errors happened at three sites: Sedge Garden, Calvary Baptist Church and Reynolds High School. Some ballots are designed specifically for 17-year-old voters, who may vote in the primary for candidates but not on the amendment if they turn 18 by the general election in November. Those ballots, which do not contain the option to vote on the amendment, were given to the wrong people, election officials said.

Election officials say they've addressed the problem with poll workers and that "we talked to all 101 chief judges about it." Polls close at 7:30pm.

Labels: Amendment One, LGBT rights, North Carolina