May 3, 2016 2 min read

Imagine my surprise when I opened up the Observer-Reporter April 26 and discovered there was a supplemental ballot for the Democratic U.S. Senate race.

I had already been to my polling place and voted. I was never made aware of or offered a paper ballot for the U.S. Senate candidates. I voted shortly after the polls opened. Maybe it was too early and the poll workers weren’t organized yet?

But no – my husband voted several hours later and he, too, was not made aware of the paper ballot. I cast my Senate vote on the voting machine. Does this mean it was not counted?

I am doubly disturbed because I was a disenfranchised voter in November 2015.

My vote was disqualified then because I was given incorrect instructions by the poll workers at my polling place. Last Thursday’s editorial in the Observer-Reporter spoke of other issues with poll workers at various locations in Washington County. What is going on here? I have completely lost confidence in the Washington County Elections Office. I can only hope it addresses the problems that occurred during last week’s primary election, and there are no issues when I attempt to vote in the upcoming presidential election in November.

Mary Ellen West

Washington