Chesterfield – Debby Burroughs, Chair of the Chesterfield Democratic Committee, today issued a statement about the unacceptable situation at the presidential primary polls in Chesterfield County on Tuesday. Ms. Burroughs said, “We in the Chesterfield Democratic Party are extremely concerned about the circumstances of the ballot shortage for Democratic voters on Tuesday. No excuse exists for not having sufficient Democratic ballots available for Chesterfield citizens who came out to participate in this historic Democratic primary. All across this country, Democrats have been voting in record numbers, frequently more than doubling any previous turn-out. Surely, Mr. Larry Haake, the Chesterfield registrar, was aware of this situation and could have easily prepared for it. In this year, when the vote of every Chesterfield Democrat could well be a determining vote in the selection of the Democratic nominee and even the next President of the United States, it is outrageous to think that, instead, Chesterfield voters were disenfranchised. We feel that Mr. Haake’s actions demonstrate either a gross incompetence or else a callous neglect of Chesterfield voters.
“We now learn that there is some question whether votes cast on slips of paper and torn legal pads can be counted. Mr. Haake never should have jeopardized Chesterfield votes. As the election professional, he of all people should have known better. Further, as he stated publicly on television, at least one Democratic voter was offered the Republican ballot. Was this individual supposed to choose a Republican nominee or write in a Democratic selection? Mr. Haake should have ensured that all election officials were well aware of the State Code that forbids write-ins during primaries, information that was posted at every voting booth.
“We want to know how many Democrats have been disenfranchised by Mr. Haake’s inadequate planning and poor judgment. Further, we reiterate that we want every vote counted so that every citizen’s voice can be heard.
“We are also very concerned about the long lines at many polling places because of Mr. Haake’s decision to have only one table at each precinct to verify voter registration. While many voters, Democrats and Republicans, waited a long time, and in some cases over an hour to vote, unfortunately, not all voters were able to do that. Voters who had such obligations as jobs to get to, children to get to school or to pick up at day care, or rides to catch may have had to leave without voting because of the inordinately long lines. Again, this should not have happened. Record turnout in the Democratic primaries this year has been the norm nationwide, not the exception; and Mr. Haake should have been prepared.
Ms. Nancy Rodrigues, Secretary of the State Board of Elections, had predicted a turnout of over 35% and, with that in mind, one table at each poll was most assuredly not sufficient.
“We call on any Chesterfield voter who had a problem at the polls on Tuesday to call the Chesterfield County Democratic Committee at 804-897-0205. Chesterfield voters deserve better and we will do everything we can to protect their votes.”
