Richmond precinct chief fired after voters given wrong ballots on Election Day
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A precinct chief in Richmond was fired and forcibly removed from her polling station on Election Day after voters said they initially couldn't get inside and then were given incomplete ballots. Richmond resident Nakeisha Smith said she and her daughter were to of the voters who arrived at the Calhoun Family Investment Center, located in Gilpin Court in Richmond's Northside, at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5 and had to wait outside because the doors were locked and no one was there to greet them. Smith's daughter, who is a first-time voter this year, handed her ID to a poll worker once they got inside, but the poll worker said they couldn't locate her or several others in the system. Those people were given provisional ballots, but Smith's daughter said the ballot did not have local races on it. Poll workers at the Calhoun Family Investment Center told 8News that a total of 11 voters at the precinct were given ballots that did not have candidates for Richmond mayor, Richmond City Council and the Richmond School board. “It was awful," said Smith. "I have this to say -- In all my years of voting, this was the worst experience doing it." The Richmond Office of Elections told 8News that the Richmond Electoral Board held an emergency meeting to remove Precinct Chief Barbara Burgo in response to the incident, but did not specify the official reasoning for her termination. The 11 people who received incomplete ballots were told they will not be allowed to submit another ballot, Smith has the following message to future voters who find themselves in long lines or have other obstacles in the way. "Get your vote in, please," said Smith. "Don't let anything stop you and please don't go home, cast that vote."
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A precinct chief in Richmond was fired and forcibly removed from her polling station on Election Day after voters said they initially couldn't get inside and then were given incomplete ballots.
Richmond resident Nakeisha Smith said she and her daughter were to of the voters who arrived at the Calhoun Family Investment Center, located in Gilpin Court in Richmond's Northside, at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5 and had to wait outside because the doors were locked and no one was there to greet them.
Smith's daughter, who is a first-time voter this year, handed her ID to a poll worker once they got inside, but the poll worker said they couldn't locate her or several others in the system. Those people were given provisional ballots, but Smith's daughter said the ballot did not have local races on it.
Poll workers at the Calhoun Family Investment Center told 8News that a total of 11 voters at the precinct were given ballots that did not have candidates for Richmond mayor, Richmond City Council and the Richmond School board.
“It was awful," said Smith. "I have this to say -- In all my years of voting, this was the worst experience doing it."
The Richmond Office of Elections told 8News that the Richmond Electoral Board held an emergency meeting to remove Precinct Chief Barbara Burgo in response to the incident, but did not specify the official reasoning for her termination.
The 11 people who received incomplete ballots were told they will not be allowed to submit another ballot, Smith has the following message to future voters who find themselves in long lines or have other obstacles in the way.
"Get your vote in, please," said Smith. "Don't let anything stop you and please don't go home, cast that vote."
