24 Chicago precincts faced ballot shortages due to coding error
Board of Elections blames a computer glitch for the issue, while alderpersons argue the agency needs better outreach before the February municipal vote.
By Rebecca Svoboda ·
Voters in 24 Chicago precincts encountered ballot shortages during the recent election, a problem the Board of Elections attributes to a computer glitch. Of the city's more than 1,200 voting sites, roughly 2 percent were affected by the error. The agency stated that the coding mistake created confusion and contributed to long lines on Election Day.
The incident sparked debate during a budget meeting at City Hall on Monday. Ald. Bill Conway, representing the 34th Ward, questioned whether the Board of Elections had performed adequately. Sandra Aspera, the agency's executive director, defended her team's efforts. "I actually feel our staff did a really good job," Aspera said, noting that the ballot error was one of several factors causing delays.
Conway pushed back on that assessment. "I think the people of the City of Chicago would disagree with that as would many people in this chamber," he stated. Michelle Harris, chairperson of committees and rules for the 8th Ward, described the situation as egregious. She cited instances where precincts ran out of ballots and voters had to travel to other sites or wait for hours.
Aspera has served with the Board of Elections for three decades and was appointed executive director approximately 18 months ago. During the meeting, she requested nearly $48 million for the agency's upcoming budget. Many alderpersons urged her to conduct more outreach before the next election so staff could better identify key contacts when problems arise.
The next Chicago municipal election is scheduled for February.
