First Voters of the Day Have Mixed Experience

Ritchie Coliseum, 8 a.m. Though there are no signs of out-of-control lines or large-scale computer failures, the first hour of primary day voting has brought a mixed bag for voters.

The first voters who came to Ritchie Coliseum at Rossborough Lane had a range of different experiences, despite arriving within moments of one another.

Miranda Martin, the first person into the polls at 7 a.m., said her voting experience could have been better.

"The election judges didn't understand how the computers worked, so it took four people to figure out how to actually get my voting card registered to me," she said. "I wish all of those who come later— when there are lines — good luck. Maybe by then they'll have it figured out. "

David Kidwell-Slack said his experience was pretty good, but that the election officials were unsure of how to use the system.

"It was a little poky, so that was odd," he said.

Charisma Wooten, the chief Republican election judge for College Park, has worked the polls for several years, and said there had been no change in the computer system used in years past. In spite of reports from voters that poll workers were unfamiliar with the system, Wooten said that everyone had experience with the computers, and that there hadn't been any problems.

Other voters who arrived early reported no problems at all.

Leslie O'Leary, who has worked at elections in other communities, said the experience was perfect.

"Everything was well explained, the election judges were well-prepared," she said. "I have done that job myself, so I know there's a lot more to it than appears. It was a very good experience."