Internet Explorer 11 is not supported

For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.

What Happens When a Polling Place Runs Out of Ballots

Some Long Beach voters said their polling place ran out of city ballots Tuesday evening.

By Christine Mai-Duc

Some Long Beach voters said their polling place ran out of city ballots Tuesday evening.

At Fire Station 14 in the Alamitos Heights neighborhood, election inspector Carina Lister said a steady stream of voters had been coming in all day.

"There hasn't been a lull at all," Lister said.

Shortly after 7 p.m., with less than an hour left before polls closed, the precinct ran out of city ballots. At least one voter was asked to vote at a neighboring precinct.

Sharon Dezutti also arrived after ballots ran out and took her chances writing down her choices on a slip of paper as poll workers suggested, crossing her fingers that officials would actually count it.

"It's really confusing," said Dezutti, 67, a retired school administrator, adding that she's never before encountered such a problem in more than 30 years of voting in Long Beach.

"I'm glad there seems to be a great turnout, but I'm a little angry this happened."

Long Beach City Clerk Larry Herrera said a fresh supply of ballots was delivered to the polling station within about half an hour.

 

(c)2014 the Los Angeles Times

 

Special Projects