Voting booth malfunctions

Tusten write-in requires a manual paper advancement

By LISA CUTRONI

NARROWSBURG, NY — As residents filed into the Western Sullivan Public Library to vote, they found a problem. The paper roll for write-in candidates wasn’t working.

Edwin Gettel, a Town of Tusten voting machine custodian, was called twice to the library to fix the machine after write-in votes were cast. “This is the second time I have been here. I thought I had it fixed, but I guess I didn’t,” Gettel said.

The machine normally allows people to write in votes for particular candidates and then the machine automatically advances the paper roll.

“There is something causing the paper not to roll, and I don’t know what it is,” Gettel said. “It’s possible that a latch has jiggled loose. I have to go through this piece by piece,” Gettel said.

Barbara Buckman, chairman of inspections, assured voters that besides write-in voting, the machine was working properly. There were also paper ballots available.

Gettel explained that when the machine was set up 10 days ago, it was working properly, but that it could have been damaged as it was being transported.

The voting booth opened at 6:00 a.m. By 11:15 a.m., 131 residents had voted, and two had cast write-in votes.