Voters frustrated by long lines at Mesita Elementary polling station

Voters on the West Side were frustrated by long lines at Mesita Elementary.

“It’s going to be a long night,” said Lisa Wise, the county’s election administrator. Wise told ABC-7 Mesita Elementary was by far the busiest polling station in the county. The problems at Mesita started at 5:30 p.m., according to Wise.

“My mistake. I should have assigned more voting machines. There is no doubt about it and I take full responsibility,” Wise said.

Voter Ali Gates told ABC-7 she arrived at the school at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday. She was not able to cast a ballot until shortly before 8:00 p.m.

“For a larger demographic, you would think they would have more resources,” Gates said, adding the county did not appear to have enough voting machines and election volunteers at Mesita Elementary.

Gates said voters in line were allowing people with physical disabilities to vote ahead of them so they would not be waiting in line.

“I have been voting here (at Mesita) since 1996 and this is the worst I have ever seen for a primary election,” said Mary Holmsley, with the El Paso Republican Party.

“There is no excuse for this,” Holmsley added.

Wise told ABC-7 nine voting machines were assigned to the Mesita polling station, the most at any polling station in the county.