Voting machines missing on election day in New Orleans

Saturday, September 18th 2004, 10:44 am

By: News On 6

NEW ORLEANS (AP) _ Many New Orleans voters were unable to cast ballots Saturday on a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage because voting machines had not been delivered to polling places, a state official said.

At least 35 precincts did not have voting machines because drivers hired to deliver the machines had apparently not shown up for work, said Scott Madere, a spokesman for Secretary of State Fox McKeithen.

Workers in McKeithen's office, including McKeithen, were driving trucks Saturday morning to deliver the machines from a warehouse in east New Orleans, Madere said. He said New Orleans was the only city to experience the problem.

Voters around Louisiana were casting ballots Saturday on an amendment to the state constitution that would ban gay marriage. New Orleans voters were also voting in local races.

Madere said inconvenienced voters would be allowed to vote after polling places officially close at 8 p.m. if they are in line at that time.