ST. JOSEPH COUNTY – WSBT is learning about some big problems at the polls on this Election Day.
Several precincts have run out of ballots.
In Madison Township at the St. Joseph County highway garage on New Road, a voter was told, "We don't think we can get more ballots." That call came into the WSBT newsroom at 4 p.m.
Bill Sniadecki calling saying he was at Elbel Golf Course where they were out of ballots. He voted early but said people told him the election officials there said they would make copies of the ballots and then enter the votes later.
Elbel polling place was without ballots between 4 and 4:30 p.m.
Many voters waited not knowing what time or if more ballots would arrive.
We received another report that poll workers were "calling since noon to get more ballots."
At old German Township School, they were down to 20 ballots and could not get in touch with anyone to get anymore.
The polling location on 300 Main St. in Liberty Township ran out of ballots around 5 p.m. Pollworkers there said they were waiting for more.
The St. Joseph County clerk's office said voting centers were heavier than expected, but inspectors were being proactive. Clerks had been notified when polls were almost out of ballots.
Chief Deputy Clerk Rita Glenn said things like (ballot shortages) happen, and they did the best they could. Glenn did not have any specifics on the shortages and didn't know the number of precincts that experienced problems.
