Wednesday, October 24, 2012

OMFG: Some Montgomery County & Prince George's Absentee Ballots Missing Referenda // PLUS: MoCo Sample Ballot Error

DOUBLE-UPDATE: Gov. O'Malley told NBC news today that only a handful of voters received incomplete ballots (excerpt below):
NBC: The number of Maryland absentee voters who received incomplete ballots is less than 20, Gov. Martin O'Malley said in a statement Wednesday.

UPDATE: A Maryland Juice reader provides the following information for affected voters:
READER: I just called BoE and they told me the correct number to call for a new ballot is: 410-269-2843. Thanks for making everyone aware of this issue!

MISSING PAGE ON ABSENTEE BALLOTS: NBC News is reporting that some absentee voters in Montgomery & Prince George's Counties have received ballots that are missing the page with the ballots questions (excerpt below):
NBC: We got a tip from a Maryland voter who says his absentee ballot arrived in the mail missing an entire page. That means he couldn’t vote on some of the most talked-about ballot issues, including Question 6 on same-sex marriage, Question 7 on expanded gambling and all of his local county ballot initiatives....

We spoke to multiple election officials today.  The Maryland State Board of Elections Deputy Administrator Ross Goldstein confirmed that some absentee ballots in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties are missing the second page. He says the state is investigating what happened but stresses it’s a small number....
In response, Governor Martin O'Malley Tweeted information on how voters can receive a complete ballot:
GOVERNOR O'MALLEY: Residents missing a 2nd page on their ballots should call 1-800-222-8683 to request a new & complete ballot

SAMPLE BALLOT TRANSLATION ERROR: Meanwhile, WUSA is reporting that the sample ballot the Montgomery County Board of Elections mails to every voter contains an incorrect/confusing translation on the marriage equality question (excerpt below):
WUSA: Same sex marriage may be one of the most controversial questions on the Maryland ballot.

So how could the Spanish explanation of Question 6 be so wrong?

Two native Spanish speakers, one a translator certified by the Organization of American States, says the ballot summary of the marriage equality question mailed out to voters in the last few weeks substitutes the word "which" for the word "to,"  and could have people voting exactly the opposite way that they intend.

Is this real life???

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