As people head to the polls to vote in the 2018 midterm election, precincts in Horry County are experiencing issues with voting machines.
All voting machines at the Myrtle Trace precinct and the Surfside #3 precinct were down at one point on Tuesday, according to Sandy Martin, the Director of the Horry County Voting Commission. Those wanting to vote had to use paper ballots.
Voters at Surfside #3 precinct say they had to vote side-by-side at a table to cast their paper ballots.
“Everyone got very anxious the second they got inside and saw how they had the polls here set up, because it just took all of our privacy away,” Brenda Braswell, a Surfside resident said.
According to Braswell, she had to place her paper ballot inside of a small bag. She’s worried her paper ballot may never reach the right destination.
“There were no guards; no guards to guard your votes, so will our votes even count? That’s what the 200 people standing here this morning were worried about. Will our votes even count,” Braswell said.
According to Martin, the bags are normal to use when casting paper ballots, and they do have a lock.
As of 1 p.m., all of the machines at the Myrtle Trace and Surfside #3 precincts are now working, Martin says. There are 24 “rovers” out working to repair machines experiencing issues and the length of time needed to complete repairs depends on the issue.
According to Martin, every machine was tested and inspected before being sent to precincts, and voting machines have issues every election due to batteries, screens, and flash cards.
Martin hopes the state will replace voting machines next year, but says voter turnout has been great, even in the county’s smallest precincts.
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