Some Early Hiccups on Election Day in Roxborough

Though their problems were largely resolved, voters in the 21st Ward Tuesday had some heartaches in trying to cast their ballots.

Voters, poll workers and campaign volunteers told Patch that some confusion existed where people should vote in Roxborough due to changed locations. Additionally, one Manayunk facility struggled to get machines going this morning.

Presidential elections bring more people to the polls than off-year or congressional elections—a known fact. That means citizens who took a few years off may be unaware that polling places moved.

Since the 2008 presidential election and the 2010 midterm election, several voter locations shifted. Signage alerted voters at locations that moved this year, but shifted locales from several years back lack instruction.

Consult the following table for recent location changes.

Additionally, workers at North Light Community Center on Green Lane in Manayunk struggled to operate machines when polls opened at 7 a.m. One poll worker, who said he was working alone, saw the line at the door grow to 60 people.

However, he eventually realized the problem—the machines were not plugged in.  After that realization, the problems disappeared.

The Committee of Seventy, the nonpartisan government watchdog group, also reported that the heat turned off at the Philadelphia Fire Department voting location at Ridge Avenue and Cinnaminson Streets. While this doesn't impact voters too much, poll workers there are feeling the early winter. Election officials are searching out space heaters.

To find out where your polling location is, check out this article.

For any election problems, call the Committee of Seventy, 1-866-687-8683 (866-OUR-VOTE).