KTLA reported that staffers at the El Camino Real Charter High School polling station told some San Fernando Valley voters they already voted.
The article buried an important detail: It happened to self-identified Republicans.
Estelle Bender, 88, told KTLA she went to the high school at 10:30. She gave a woman her ballot, who scanned it. The woman then told her, “You voted.” Bender replied, “No, I haven’t.”
Bender said the woman older it “has been happening all morning.”
“The man next to me was arguing the same thing,” stated Bender.
So Bender filled out a provisional ballot, but the situation made her “really angry.”
Bender left but told two women coming towards her to not be shocked if they’re told to fill out the provisional ballot.
The ladies told Bender the staffers already told them they voted and they had to fill out the provisional ballot.
Then Bender drops the bomb when she asked the women, “Are you by any chance Republicans?”
“And she said ‘yes.’ And I said, ‘So am I,'” explained Bender.
The lady announced the others with her identified as Republicans, too. Bender said another person she spoke to at another polling place had the same issue who just happened to be a Republican.
The reporter asked Bender if the fact that they are all Republicans made her suspicious. She was more gracious than me, giving him a little “um, duh” laugh, but responded yes.
“I’d still like to know how I voted,” Bender asserted.
The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s office explained that they replaced the machines at the polling center and went on about the provisional ballots:
The voters who experienced this issue were offered and provided provisional ballots – the failsafe option to ensure no one has turned away from voting. Provisional ballots are regular ballots and once the eligibility of the voter is verified, they are processed and counted. After troubleshooting the issue, the equipment at the locations was replaced and voting continued.
That is not the point. That. Is. Not. The. Point.
The point is the computers told polling staffers these people already voted. They all happen to be Republicans. Will there be an investigation?
I’m guessing not.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY