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Phoenix Official Backtracks After Blaming Voters for Lines
Source: Associated Press
Phoenix Official Backtracks After Blaming Voters for Lines
By BOB CHRISTIE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHOENIX — Mar 23, 2016, 7:38 PM ET
Bruce Weiss stewed after waiting 2½ hours in line outside a downtown Phoenix polling place, where juice drinks, snacks and circus animal cookies were handed out by citizens hoping to pacify thousands who turned out to cast ballots in Arizona's presidential primary.
The scene was repeated Tuesday as thousands stood in lines that wrapped around sidewalks at churches, community centers and government buildings after the number of places to vote were cut back as a cost-savings measure. Some voters took shelter from the sun under umbrellas. Others brought lawn chairs. Still others gave up and went home. The last voters entered polling spots after midnight.
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Arizona's Republican governor called the primary day foul-ups "unacceptable," and others demanded the resignation of the county's top elections official, Recorder Helen Purcell.
Purcell initially put the blame on voters, stirring a clamor on the Internet. Her name was a trending topic on Twitter. But Wednesday she backtracked, saying she failed to anticipate the effect of intense voter interest on primary turnout.
"I made bad decisions based on the information I had, obviously, or we wouldn't have had long lines," Purcell told The Associated Press.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
By BOB CHRISTIE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHOENIX — Mar 23, 2016, 7:38 PM ET
Bruce Weiss stewed after waiting 2½ hours in line outside a downtown Phoenix polling place, where juice drinks, snacks and circus animal cookies were handed out by citizens hoping to pacify thousands who turned out to cast ballots in Arizona's presidential primary.
The scene was repeated Tuesday as thousands stood in lines that wrapped around sidewalks at churches, community centers and government buildings after the number of places to vote were cut back as a cost-savings measure. Some voters took shelter from the sun under umbrellas. Others brought lawn chairs. Still others gave up and went home. The last voters entered polling spots after midnight.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Arizona's Republican governor called the primary day foul-ups "unacceptable," and others demanded the resignation of the county's top elections official, Recorder Helen Purcell.
Purcell initially put the blame on voters, stirring a clamor on the Internet. Her name was a trending topic on Twitter. But Wednesday she backtracked, saying she failed to anticipate the effect of intense voter interest on primary turnout.
"I made bad decisions based on the information I had, obviously, or we wouldn't have had long lines," Purcell told The Associated Press.
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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/phoenix-official-backtracks-blaming-voters-lines-37884690
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