Election Day faced significant challenges at Ogden Elementary School, located at 24 W. Walton St. in the vibrant Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago, where numerous voters were mistakenly informed that their entire precinct had completed the voting process.
The disruption specifically impacted voters from the 12th precinct and was attributed to malfunctions in the site’s electronic pollbooks, as explained by Max Bever, the director of public information for the Chicago Board of Elections. As a solution, poll workers advised voters to either head to the nearest voting center if they were unable to remain in line or to return before the polls closed at 7 p.m.
Shortly before 9 a.m., an election official on-site communicated to WBEZ that the issue had been addressed and that the voting process was now functioning without further complications.
James Cohoon, a Gold Coast resident, arrived at Ogden at 6 a.m. eagerly anticipating the chance to cast his vote. Upon his arrival, he was informed by poll workers in the 12th precinct that voting had supposedly concluded for everyone in that area.
After enduring a delay of several hours—with no clear explanation provided—Cohoon and others were eventually permitted to cast their ballots. Ultimately, Cohoon found himself in line for nearly three hours, expressing his frustrations.
“Two hours and 45 minutes, that’s ridiculous. That’s sad. It almost feels like you’re losing your voice,” Cohoon lamented, highlighting the emotional weight of the situation.
Though Cohoon was able to persevere through the inconveniences, he observed several voters leaving in frustration before getting the chance to vote, noting that some elderly individuals were in desperate need of a place to sit down as they endured the long wait.
“Due to this long time of waiting and frustration, unfortunately there are people who are walking away, they are losing their vote, they are losing their voice,” Cohoon remarked, underscoring the detrimental impact of the situation on civic participation.
Voters wait in long lines Tuesday at Ogden Elementary School in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood, where some voters were told their entire precinct had already cast their ballots.
**Interview with Max Bever, Director of Public Information for the Chicago Board of Elections**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Max. Can you explain what happened at Ogden Elementary School on Election Day?
**Max Bever:** Thank you for having me. Unfortunately, Ogden Elementary faced significant challenges due to malfunctions in our electronic pollbooks. This led to some voters being mistakenly informed that their precinct had already completed the voting process, which created confusion and frustration.
**Editor:** That sounds quite disruptive. How did this issue specifically affect voters from the 12th precinct?
**Max Bever:** The malfunction primarily impacted those voters. They were turned away under the incorrect assumption that their precinct’s voting was complete, which prevented them from casting their ballots. We understand how critical it is for every eligible voter to participate, so we are deeply concerned about the effect this had on the election process.
**Editor:** What measures are you planning to take to prevent similar issues in the future?
**Max Bever:** We are conducting a thorough review of the incident to understand the root causes. This includes assessing the technology used in our polling places and retraining staff on proper procedures. Additionally, we’re exploring backup solutions to ensure that voters can still vote even if electronic systems fail.
**Editor:** Have any steps been taken since the disruption to accommodate the affected voters?
**Max Bever:** Yes, we have been encouraging anyone affected to reach out to our office. We are working closely to ensure that they have opportunities to vote, whether through mail-in ballots or other means.
**Editor:** That’s reassuring. Any final thoughts on the importance of a smooth voting process?
**Max Bever:** Absolutely. A smooth and efficient voting process is fundamental to our democracy. We will continue to strive for improvements to minimize disruptions and ensure that every Chicagoan has their voice heard during elections.
**Editor:** Thank you, Max, for shedding light on this issue. We hope to see improvements in the future.
**Max Bever:** Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this important matter.
