Though action to correct those voting machine malfunctions is being taken, election officials throughout the Northern Panhandle should take additional precautions.
"Early voting" began last week in West Virginia. It allows voters to go to their county courthouses and cast ballots in advance of election day, Nov. 4.
But in at least three counties, including Ohio, early voting has not gone entirely without challenges. Putnam and Jackson counties have reported headaches similar to that here in Wheeling.
We have been told by three people that when they attempted to vote for specific candidates, machines at the City-County Building initially recorded votes for others seeking the same offices. One case involved a vote for president, another for sheriff and the third for magistrate. In all three cases, voters noticed the improperly recorded votes and, with help from poll workers, were able to correct them.
Secretary of State Betty Ireland told our reporter that the improperly recorded votes resulted from machines that needed to be recalibrated. Movement of voting machines after they have been programmed once sometimes alters their settings slightly, she explained. Ireland added that she has directed officials in counties where problems have been encountered to recalibrate their machines.
We urge election officials in all Northern Panhandle counties to check the calibration of all machines being used for early voting - regardless of whether problems have been reported. Then, the machines should be tested by election officials.
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