Large voter turnout stalls Monroe County election results

Monroe County Clerk Linda Robbins said the ballot counting and vote reporting process this year took some time for a good reason: A lot of people were lined up to vote.

“I don’t see it as a problem,” Robbins said. “I’m actually glad turnout’s been so good.”

Robbins said the most populous precincts took longer because people were still in line at 6 p.m. when polls were to officially close. Those standing in line by 6 p.m. were able to vote, though, Robbins said.

“That’s part of the process,” she said.

As of about 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, 58 of 83 precincts had been reported, only 22.55 percent of the vote in Monroe County.

Robbins said the polling center at IU’s Union Street Center helped increase the reporting numbers by itself simply because so many people were in line.

When asked if she would support the use of direct record equipment technology for voting, Robbins said paper ballots are better.

“Calibration can go bad quite easily,” Robbins said. “Your chance for human error is quite high, too.”

She said another reason electronic ballots should be avoided is because if someone accidentally made the wrong selection, there were no second chances.

Such technology is not needed because this year’s election didn’t take more time than usual, Election Board member Lorraine Farrell said.

“We had a huge turnout,” Farrell said. “I’m pleased with that.”