In an era when political apathy often dominates post-election headlines, a complaint that grew out of a bigger-than-normal voter turnout last month in one local community might seem to some a refreshing change of pace.

But that's exactly what happened on election night in Delaware Township, according to Dale Haws of 258 Hamburg Road.

Haws told Mercer County Commissioners Ken Seamans and Cloyd E. "Gene" Brenneman Thursday that voters waited in line in his precinct for more than an hour, beginning at about 5:30 p.m. to well after the polls were scheduled to close at 8, causing many of them to just leave before they could vote.

There were no breakdowns or problems and there were no gubernatorial or presidential races, but still some people with other commitments or engagements didn't vote because of the delay, Haws said.

"I've never seen it before," he said. "And I think you know I've been up at Delaware for quite awhile and I've never seen that."

Haws' purpose in appearing before the commissioners was to bring the problem to their attention in hopes they might solve it by adding at least one more voting machine to the three already designated for his precinct.

"The most important right we have as far as I'm concerned in the United States is one man, one vote," Haws said. "And I think it's the most important thing you can ensure and you have the power over."

At the precinct located in the Hempfield Township municipal building, Haws said two machines are in place for about 500 voters, one for every 250 voters. Meanwhile the precinct located in the Delaware Township municipal building has three machines for about 1,300 voters, or one for every 433.

"Gentlemen, we don't have enough machines," Haws said. "The good news was we had a big turnout. The bad news was we didn't have enough machines."

Brenneman noted that Jim Bennington, the county's director of elections, had requested more machines for next year during his budget hearing with commissioners last month.

Bennington could not be reached for comment.

County Fiscal Director Tresa Templeton said an unknown number of additional machines was included in the preliminary 2004 budget, but that hasn't been finalized yet.

"There will be some, but right now we can't tell you how many," Brenneman said.

Seamans said there is a new state program that requires all counties to add machines for the hearing impaired and blind voters in every precinct, "so there will be a machine added to every precinct," which he said is expected to be funded by a state grant.

"But the fact of the matter is, and I'm not looking for excuses, two years in a row the elections office asked for machines and they were turned down because of budget constraints," Seamans said. "... And that's bordering on the inexcusable. And we're guilty."

But, he added, with the new program that's scheduled to begin next year, "these new machines absolutely have to be available in every precinct."

And Bill Boyle, the county's personnel director, said the general public will also be able to utilize the machines.

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