By Sue Loughlin
Election woes continued in Parke County on Wednesday, with the county clerk declining to release a copy of election results because of problems related to the new computerized voting system.
That and related problems have prompted one candidate to ask for a new election.
Clerk Sue Ann Woody declined to release election results Wednesday; she said a recount was necessary because of technical glitches.
“We need to have a recount to make sure we have the right numbers” before they are certified, Woody said. “I’m not sure if it’s accurate. We’ll call technicians back and recheck this.”
Voting Technologies International of Wisconsin supplied the voting equipment, and technicians will need to return to Parke County for a recount.
Woody didn’t know how soon that would occur but did not expect it to happen Wednesday.
She doesn’t believe a recount will affect the outcome of primary races, and votes were counted twice Tuesday. She declined further comment.
The county used computerized, touch-screen voting machines for the first time this year. On Tuesday night, voters described numerous problems with machine malfunctions that caused long lines and prompted some voters to wait up to two hours to vote.
Also, there were not enough voting machines, some voters said. Another problem related to fewer voting sites; the county had to change some of the voting sites to accommodate the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Meanwhile, one of the Republican candidates for sheriff, Terry R. Conrad, said he’s heard about many problems related to the election. “I think we need to go ahead with a new election,” he said. Several voters and candidates agree with him, he said.
According to unofficial results, Mike Eslinger won the Republican primary for sheriff, easily defeating three other contenders that included Conrad, Randel Kneeland and Eddie McHargue.
Conrad wants a new election because “I don’t believe the results are there. I don’t think they are accurate.”
Conrad doesn’t believe the election was run very smoothly. He’s heard that several polling places had computer problems “and some people didn’t get to vote because they had to go to work and couldn’t wait.”
Also, the clerk’s office wouldn’t provide any information related to voting by precincts Tuesday — only unofficial totals, Conrad said. The unofficial totals weren’t available until around 10 p.m.
Conrad is an employee of Duke Energy in Cayuga and is a special duty volunteer officer with the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
