Coding Error Caused Chicago Ballot Shortages and Long Lines

An error in the Chicago Board of Elections’ ballot-quantity system led some polling places to receive too few ballots of particular styles, officials said on November 4. The shortages caused delays during the November 3 midterm election, even though each precinct received the correct overall number of ballots.

Chicago Ballot Shortages Put Voters Through Hours of Delays

Chicago voters faced hours-long waits at some polling places after a coding error left precincts short of particular ballot styles during the November 3 midterm election. The Board of Elections acknowledged the mistake on November 4 and apologized for delays that affected voters trying to cast ballots.

The error involved the system used to calculate ballot quantities. Some precincts received too many ballots of one style and too few of another, although the board reported that all precincts got the right number of ballots overall. The problem affected some of the city’s 491 split precincts, where residents may need different ballot styles based on their election districts.

Owen Wiley said he arrived at Goethe Elementary School in Logan Square at 11:30 a.m. and was told the site had run out of paper ballots. After visiting another location and returning to Goethe, he waited for hours before voting at 7:05 p.m. He said the experience could lead him to choose mail-in voting or early voting in upcoming elections.

The board began printing and delivering replacement ballots after discovering the issue around 10 a.m. and sent extra electronic voting machines to affected sites. Officials said polling places stayed open long enough for people waiting in line to vote. Officials still do not know how many precincts were impacted, and its investigation continues. Nearly 660,000 voters had cast ballots; final results are due within 21 days of Election Day.

Chicago Election Board’s Coding Failure Disrupted Voting

A preventable coding error in Chicago’s election administration disrupted voting at some polling places during the November 3 midterm election. The Board of Elections acknowledged the failure on November 4, saying some precincts received too few ballots of certain styles and voters endured long delays.

Officials said each precinct got the right overall quantity of ballots, but in some cases the distribution among styles was incorrect. The issue affected some of the city’s 491 split precincts, where residents may receive different ballots depending on their election districts. Officials have not established how many precincts ran short.

At Goethe Elementary School in Logan Square, voter Owen Wiley said he was directed elsewhere after arriving at 11:30 a.m. and being told paper ballots had run out. He returned around 3 p.m., waited for hours and cast his ballot at 7:05 p.m. The board began printing and delivering additional ballots after becoming aware of the problem around 10 a.m., and provided extra electronic voting machines.

The episode raises questions about the board’s preparations, particularly as officials reported nearly 660,000 ballots cast. The board said this was the first error of its kind and that its IT department has introduced automated checks and other safeguards. Its investigation is ongoing, and the board has 21 days after Election Day to certify results.