Nov 7, 2012 3 min read

A computer glitch in Donegal Township’s 3rd precinct kept voters from casting ballots in the 49th Legislative District race between incumbent Democrat Peter J. Daley and Republican challenger Richard Massafra, instead substituting the name of unopposed Democrat Jesse White of Cecil, who represents the 46th District.

“It’s a shame the voters were disenfranchised in that precinct,” said Daley. “But I don’t think it’s going to make a significant difference, either.”

Unofficial totals from Washington County show Daley with 9,675 votes, or 52.9 percent, and Massafra with 8,574 votes, or 46.9 percent. Totals district-wide, according to Pennsylvania Department of State website, were Daley, 11,906, and Massafra, 9,877.

Washington County Elections Director Larry Spahr was mystified at how White’s name and legislative district could have appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

“Somehow it jumped,” Spahr said. “I have no idea.”

Daley’s and Massafra’s names were correctly listed on Donegal 3’s voting machines in the April primary.

The elections office tests voting machines to ensure they are tabulating correctly, but the names of candidates is not something those performing the tests are monitoring, said Spahr, who planned to contact Dominion Voting, which purchased Diebold’s touch-screen voting technology after an antitrust case.

“I want to talk to one of the lead technicians who service the database to check the coding after I set it up,” Spahr said.

Daley said he had a worker stationed at Donegal’s 1st precinct, and he personally greeted voters at Washington Township, Fayette County, the single-biggest precinct in his district. There was no Daley poll worker at Donegal 3.

“It’s just very weird,” Daley said.

In the 46th District, White was going to be pitted against an Allegheny County legislator. Had that plan not been tossed out by a court, the winner of the Democratic contest would have faced Beaver County State Rep. Jim Christiana in a district that included western Washington County, home to Donegal and the former borough of West Alexander.

In April, White, a Democrat, also secured a Republican write-in nomination, so his name appeared more than once on the maverick voting machine software.

The legislative results from Donegal 3 were 11 votes for White, Republican; 13 votes for White, Democrat; and 60 votes for White, no party specified. There were also four write-in votes in the precinct in that category.

“I’m planning my victory parade down Main Street of Donegal’s third precinct,” White quipped. “The people have spoken. What can I say?

“All kidding aside, it’s a good thing it didn’t happen in a scenario where it could have had real consequences.”

White said he’s in favor of a paper trail audit of touch-screen voting machines so there is something to count in the event of a voting machine software failure or unanticipated destruction of voting materials, such as in a vehicular accident on a local election board member’s way to return them to the county on election night.