NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The NC NAACP says it is receiving reports from its members that some electronic voting machines may be malfunctioning and improperly identifying a voters’ selected choice as a choice for a different candidate.
The group says voters report experiencing this problem on the presidential ballot and others in at least 5 counties, including New Hanover.
The NAACP says voters were able to fix the problem by reviewing their choices and fixing the error before submitting their electronic ballots. The group says it is, and will continue, investigating the complaints through election day.
The group says they are getting the same type of reports for Cumberland, Iredell, Mecklenberg and Catawba counties.
“Throughout the early voting period and on election day itself, on behalf of our membership, the NC NAACP and our partners will be investigating all complaints received by our members, and by voters our members are assisting across the state,” said NC NAACP President Rev. Dr. William Barber. “We are gravely serious at this time about protecting the voting rights of North Carolinians. No voter should feel intimidated in this election or concerned that your vote will not count. Your voice is urgently needed and, in this year, in the wake of our historic voting rights victory in NC NAACP v. McCrory, we will not allow any rumors, confusion, or misguided forces of voter suppression to turn us around.”
Here’s what the NC NAACP wants you to do:
They’re asking any voter who experiences a problem with a voting machine, or other problems that leave you worried about whether your vote has been correctly counted to immediately call the national voter protection hotline: 1-866-OUR-VOTE. You can also text your information directly to the NC NAACP at (919) 308-9085.
The group also wants every voter to review their ballot.
Dr. Barber says they have “requested that the State Board of Elections immediately provide all County Board of Elections that use electronic machines with new signage that can be placed at all stations that reminds voters to check and confirm choices using the review screen before submitting your ballot and offers voters the opportunity to use a regular paper ballot if the machine is malfunctioning. Where a County Board does not have a paper ballot back-up available, we ask that the SBOE immediately help to rectify that.”
Barber goes on to say, “In every election, there are cases where electronic machinery has problems. We ask the State Board to alert voters immediately of what efforts are being made to remove or fix malfunctioning machines. The NC NAACP encourage all voters to express your fundamental right to vote with pride and vigilance this election.”