Voters Show Up In Droves For General Election

GREENVILLE -- The voting experience varied widely across the Upstate as people cast their votes in the 2004 general election.

Problems appeared at a few voting places using the new computerized voting systems. Voters at Southside High School had to wait while a technician repaired balky machines. People trying to vote at Grace Presbyterian Church in Mauldin had to use paper ballots for a time while voting machines were brought back online.

"The voting process in South Carolina is working very well across the state," said Marci Andino, executive director of the South Carolina State Election Commission. "We are using a lot of new processes and procedures this year, and we are experiencing exactly what we expected -- minor problems that we are able to correct in real time. Overall, the system and our voting equipment is working very well."

Other voters reported being sent to incorrect polling places and having trouble being found on the registration rolls.

"They didn't let me vote today because I'm a new voter, and they said I needed a second proof of a precinct address," one voter said.

Poll managers said the most common problem was caused by people moving without notifying their county's election commission.

"We've got people that have moved, changed addresses and not given us that information, so they're having to come into the office and vote under the fail safe provision," Patsy Brown said.

Turnout varied widely Tuesday morning. Hundreds stood in line at one polling place in Simpsonville.

At the National Guard armory in Easley at 8:30 a.m., people voting in the Woodside district waited as much as 40 minutes to cast their vote.

Across the room at the Smith Grove district, voting booths were often empty for minutes at a time.

About 200 people were in line when the polls opened at a middle school in Columbia. A long-time poll worker said, "It's not normal."

He said it's nearly twice the early turnout of four years ago.

NBC is operating a phone line where voters can report problems at the polls. That number is (866) MYVOTE1.

NBC, WYFF News 4 and TheCarolinaChannel.com will have the latest election results beginning at 7 p.m.