Confusion over Statehouse district lines, missing key reported in early voting

There was some confusion this morning over House and Senate district boundary lines at polling places in southern Charleston County.

Also, poll workers who lacked a key to open the National Guard Armory in Moncks Corner unfolded voting machines outdoors to provided sidewalk balloting service until the building could be opened.

Those were the biggest problems to emerge from early voting in the primary elections today.

In Charleston County, voting machine technicians were busy but all machines were reported up and running, Charleston County Board of Elections and Voter Registration Executive Director Marilyn Bowers said.

She said confusion over Senate and House district boundary lines complicated matters in the St. Paul’s district, which includes Hollywood, Meggett and Ravenel. Due to the confusion, one voter in St. Paul’s left the polling place without voting but said he would return later, she said. Bowers was in the district helping to clear up issues for poll workers and for voters. She said she hopes the state Legislature will draw more sensible lines for 2010.

The poll worker with the key to the armory was not there when the polls opened at 7 a.m., but he was soon located and was there to open the building. In the short period before the building was opened, voting took place outdoors, Melody Goggin, a clerk with the Berkeley County Registration and Elections board, said.

She said no voters were turned away. The poll workers “were able to set the machines up and did what they were supposed to do,” Goggin said.

She said that, otherwise, “everything is running good” for voters in Berkeley County.

Dorchester County Elections Commission Director Kathy Worthington said voting was running smoothly, and the most serious issue arose when the wrong sample ballot was displayed at a polling place. Some candidates and their supporters were taken aback when they noticed names missing from the sample ballot, she said.

“The poll manager just grabbed the wrong ballot to put on the wall,” Worthington said. She said the incorrect sample ballot was quickly replaced by the proper one.

Check back later at Charleston.net for more on this story and other election news, including results when they become available and photos and video. Read Wednesday's Post and Courier for more coverage.