MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - The State wants an audit of the Shelby County Election Commission after numerous reported problems during early voting for the August 2nd election.
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett stated Friday his office had requested the state comptroller conduct an immediate audit of the election commission, citing "a myriad of errors" not only with the current election, but over at least a decade.
Hargett noted the reported issues with the August 2nd election's early voting period were part of "a troubling pattern of errors that cannot go unnoticed."
Most of the problems are the result of recent redistricting. Several voters have complained to poll workers that they were not able to vote in local races, many of which involve the Tennessee State House District 93 Democratic Primary between Mike Kernell and G.A. Hardaway.
As of Monday, blogger and Shelby County Commission District 1 candidate Steve Ross said by his count,
1,019 voters had been given the wrong ballot. The election commission stated Tuesday that it had
identified and addressed ballot discrepancies with the Tennessee House District 93 and District 98 races.
By Friday, a voting database expert assisting the Shelby County Election Commission, Dr. Joe Weinberg, said
5.4 percent of early voters, which is more than 2,300 voters, were given the wrong ballot.
Other problems have also been reported in early voting, such as the Municipal School Districts referendum
not appearing on ballots for some Bartlett and Collierville residents.
As for those incorrect ballots, "Once a vote is cast, it is, by law, impossible to retract or change by anyone," stated Robert Meyers, Chairman of the Shelby County Election Commission.
Early voting continues through Saturday, July 28. Election Day is Thursday, August 2.
