What went wrong: A timeline of election day
Issues with Hancock County’s voting equipment software left three local races in flux Tuesday after election workers learned more than 2,000 ballots contained errors.
Before 6 a.m.
Poll workers across Hancock County report issues trying to install a vendor update to the county’s voting equipment software. The problem causes delays, but voting continues.
10 a.m.
A voter at NineStar Connect’s north campus, which served as one of 12 polling places Tuesday, notices the two races for Hancock County commissioner are missing from the ballot.
1 p.m.
The Hancock County Election Board issues a news release stating a computer glitch caused the commissioner races to be omitted at one polling site, and the issue was resolved by 10:30 a.m. The problem is perceived as relatively minor.
6:45 p.m.
The final voter finishes casting a ballot at the Hancock County Courthouse Annex, which is then opened to members of the public eager to watch results roll in.
7:15 p.m.
A representative of Election Systems & Software, the county’s election equipment vendor, notifies county officials the computer glitch spotted at NineStar Connect actually affected five polling sites — not one.
9 p.m.
Members of the election board come before a crowded room of spectators and announce that 2,000-plus ballots were incomplete, leaving results for three local races in limbo. The partial ballots will have to be recreated on new ballots and counted by hand today.
