ELECTION DAY COULD BE HELL AS STATE LAGS IN VOTING GLITCH PREPAREDNESS

Although we somehow avoided a catastrophic collapse of our electoral infrastructure during the presidential primaries despite being dismally behind nearly every other state when it comes to preparedness for voting glitches, we may not be so lucky when South Carolinians head to the polls in 14 days.

According to a report by three policy groups, the Palmetto State is among the 10 worst-prepared states for voting machine failures and problems in the voting system come Nov. 4. Go figure…

The report cites four failures in the U.S., including one in Horry County in the Janurary GOP presidential primary, in which some precincts ran out of paper ballots and touch screen machines in 80 percent of precincts reportedly malfunctioned. The report points to increasingly complicated technology as a factor in voting problems.

But officials at the South Carolina State Election Commission strongly defend the state’s capabilities and dispute the report’s findings.

The report seeks to “undermine public confidence in … our country’s election process,” the commission said. [Morris News Service]

You’ve got to hand it to the State Election Commission. Despite mounds of evidence to the contrary, they’re sticking by their guns and assuring us that everything is just fine. Further, anything that says otherwise, no matter how “factual,” only undermines their almighty authority.

And good for them. I for one don’t care if my vote was given to the candidate I chose or even recorded at all. I’m sure whoever they pick for me will do a fine job as an elected official… right?

Plus, this will make things way more exciting on Election Day. It will be like Russian Roulette, except nobody dies. Unless, of course, the Election Commission screws up enough votes to elect Bob Conley for U.S. Senate, in which case I’m pretty sure we would all be killed by some sort of aviation equipment hidden under his flat top.

(Photo: Reuters)