Chicago Voting Glitch: Coding Error Causes Ballot Shortages

A coding error in the Chicago Board of Elections' computer system caused ballot shortages at multiple polling places on Tuesday. The glitch affected split precincts, where voters receive different ballot styles based on their specific district. This technical failure forced many citizens to wait in long lines, with some standing outside after the official voting hours had ended.

The Board has identified the root cause as a transposition of quantities within the automated system. Julie Metea, a spokesperson for the Board, explained that while the total number of ballots for each precinct was correct, the distribution among different ballot styles was swapped in some locations. This meant certain polling sites had an oversupply of one style while running out of another.

The issue became apparent during the afternoon hours. Alderman Daniel La Spata of the First Ward called the Board at 3:30 p.m. to request more paper ballots for his district. He reported that the new ballots did not arrive until two hours later. La Spata noted that his area features competitive school board races, with outcomes potentially decided by margins of less than one percentage point.

Voters across the city reported similar experiences. In the First Ward, Meredith Anderer arrived to find the location out of paper ballots. In Pilsen, voter Eleazar Garza described a situation where staff told him to keep waiting. Tahya Bailey in West Chatham expressed frustration after learning her polling place had run out of ballots entirely.

The Board stated that Chicago has 1,291 total precincts, with 491 classified as split precincts. Although not all split precincts were affected, the Board acknowledged that the error was the first of its kind in the city's history. The Board's IT department has since installed automated validation checks and system safeguards to prevent similar issues before ballots are sent to printers.

The Board is still investigating the exact number of precincts impacted. It declined on-camera interview requests and provided details via email. The Board apologized for the delays and thanked voters for their patience. La Spata urged the public to attend the Board's budget committee hearing on November 9 to voice their concerns about the incident.

The Board said it will continue its investigation to determine the full scope of the shortage. The agency aims to identify every location where the transposition of ballot styles occurred. These findings will help the Board assess the impact on the recent local elections.