KRDO: (Colorado Springs) SHORTAGE OF BALLOTS MARS ELECTION

In addition to this report about shortage of ballots on MARS, I've been told that about 20 precincts in D11 were without ballots, some running out as early as 2 PM.

It looks our our clerk and recorder (mentioned in a comment to this post) underestimated voter turnout, which at 35%, was about double the usual 18% for an off-year election. It shows that everyone on both sides of the issues and candidates worked hard to get out the vote.

--Dave Therault

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Too Many Voters And Too Few Ballots Results In Many Voters Just Going Home While Other Choose To Wait

by Dave Rose

11/1/2005

A shortage of ballots at many polling places resulted in many El Paso County voters being forced to submit provisional ballots, many others had to wait for more ballots to be delivered and hundreds simply went home without casting their votes.

Shortages of ballots were reported at precincts throughout the area with problems first noted in the fast growing suburbs east and northeast of Colorado Springs where Falcon School District 49 has a hotly contentious school tax issue at stake in today's election. School officials are hoping voters will approve a tax hike to help ease overcrowded classrooms.

At some polling places voters were told to hold onto their registration cards proving that their were in line when the ballots ran out and then asked to return after eight pm to vote.

El Paso County Sheriff Deputies are being pressed into service to deliver new supplies to the precincts that ran out.