Multiple issues were reported on Tuesday by voters attempting to cast a ballot in the municipal runoff election in Mobile. City officials blame the Secretary of State's Office's voter rolls, but Secretary of State Wes Allen is skeptical.
Former Mobile County District Judge Spiro Cheriogotis and State Rep. Barbara Drummond (D-Mobile) are on the ballot.
Reportedly, some voters sought to receive a ballot. When presenting a voter ID, their voter status was shown as "inactive."
Alice Hicks told 1819 News she was one of those, although she knows she is registered to vote. She was voting at Rise Church when she said she was told she was inactive. Hicks said at least 10 other people at the location were given provisional ballots due to the same issue.
Other voting precincts also experienced issues.
City of Mobile director of communications Jason Johnson told 1819 News that issues were caused by a combination of data provided by the Secretary of State's Office and a "small technical issue."
"The voter rolls provided by the Alabama Secretary of State’s office appear to have some local voters listed as 'inactive' who participated in the August 26 election," Johnson told 1819 News. "Typically, voters listed as inactive are allowed to cast a standard ballot along with a voter re-identification form (voter update form) that’s sent to the board of registrars. This morning, the Tenex Electronic Poll Books used by local election workers were only allowing voters listed as 'inactive' to cast provisional ballots."
Johnson said City Clerk Lisa Lambert was able to resolve the issue with the Tenex system so that voters listed as “inactive” could cast a standard ballot, along with a standard voter update form.
Allen's office stated, "The Secretary of State’s office has experienced no issues."
Hicks said she hopes the issues do not impact the outcome of the election. Johnson said everyone's vote will be counted.
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