Election Day disruptions in Apache County amid printing issues

Posted by Donovan Quintero | Nov 5, 2024 | News |

ST. MICHAELS, Ariz.

Several polling sites across Apache County experienced significant disruptions on Election Day because of problems with ballot printing, according to Craig Tsosie, the chief deputy recorder for Apache County.

Personnel have been dispatched to key locations in St. Michaels, Lupton, and Chinle, where Navajo voters faced challenges that forced many to leave and return later to cast their ballots, Tsosie said on Tuesday morning.

He reported that earlier issues of ballots printing on one side had been resolved, bringing some relief to the situation at the St. Michaels voting site, where voters confirmed that the printing machine is now functioning correctly.

“We’re doing everything possible to resolve the issue,” Tsosie stated, who is running for vice president at the St. Michaels Chapter.

Special to the Times | Donovan Quintero
An Arizona Native Vote Election Protection Project sign sits on the road on Tuesday morning in St. Michaels, Ariz.

However, concerns persist regarding the availability of ballots and the functionality of electronic voting machines throughout the county. Speaker Crystalyne Curley confirmed widespread problems across the Chinle area, including inaccurate ballot printing, insufficient provisional ballots, and long lines for electronic voting machines, as well as highlighting that Apache County is not delivering enough emergency provisional ballots, exacerbating difficulties for voters trying to participate in the election.

“So that’s one area of that where these printing issues are coming from too, that they’re being printed, they’re not printing accurately, and yes, people are being turned away, that they should come back later until the printers are being fixed. But that shouldn’t be the case, and another issue is there are not enough provisional ballots at these locations. We’ve been getting fixed numbers,” said Speaker Curley. “We don’t know the exact numbers, but there are at least one hundred that are at these polling sites for provisional ballots. So those are running out too right now. And then, a third one is the electronic voting machines, where they don’t have the printers are not working, and if there are no more provisional ballots, they’re not available. They rely on the electronic machines. But right now, some of those electronic machines have long lines.”

Additionally, she said that transportation issues and cold weather conditions have made it more challenging for residents to access polling locations. She advised voters to stay in line and encouraged them to vote using their ID and to check their registration status to ensure they could cast their ballots.

Special to the Times | Donovan Quintero
An Arizona Native Vote Election Protection Project volunteer works with a Navajo voter with their voting issue on Tuesday morning in St. Michaels, Ariz.

“So, get out there and vote, even though it’s cold, stay in line, be patient, and we’re trying to work as much as we can to make sure that everybody has a ballot to vote for to vote on,” she said. “Encourage each other on this very important day for all of us and our families.”

The combined challenges have raised concerns about voter accessibility in the region, prompting calls for immediate action to ensure all eligible citizens can exercise their right to vote.