USA Today/Gannett: Voting advocates say coronavirus led to chaos, maybe not lower turnout

USA Today/Gannett: Voting advocates say coronavirus led to chaos, maybe not lower turnout

Karen Hobert Flynn, president of Common Cause, said the challenges in the primaries will give election officials an opportunity to find remedies such as allowing more mail-in voting by the November election. “Today we’re faced with a challenge unlike anything we’ve seen in our 50 years of advocacy, a global pandemic where all 50 states have now declared a state of emergency,” she said.

WASHINGTON – Democratic primary voters in Florida, Illinois and Arizona found some confusion at polling places that moved or closed because of coronavirus, but voting advocates said Tuesday that turnout might still eclipse the 2016 primary. …

Jay Young, executive director of Common Cause Illinois, said problems emerged early with election judges who didn’t show up and polling places closed. Poll workers complained about a lack of wipes or hand sanitizer, he said.

“Here in Illinois, it’s been a hectic and trying day,” he said, with in-person turnout running about one-third the rate of previous primaries.

Liza McClenaghan, board chair for Common Cause Florida, said a number of poll workers in Palm Beach County didn’t report to work Tuesday. Some had keys to polling places, which prevented them opening, and others had keys to equipment, which prevented using them, she said.

The county invited voters to visit one of four election offices, or to mail in ballots. But McClenaghan said elderly voters have been asking where to vote as they discovered closed polling places and were suspicious of having mail-in ballots delivered by strangers.

“We’ve had a dog’s breakfast about information for poll closings,” McClenaghan said. “We hope things improve shortly.”

Karen Hobert Flynn, president of Common Cause, said the challenges in the primaries will give election officials an opportunity to find remedies such as allowing more mail-in voting by the November election.

“Today we’re faced with a challenge unlike anything we’ve seen in our 50 years of advocacy, a global pandemic where all 50 states have now declared a state of emergency,” she said.