INDIANAPOLIS -- About 100 workers failed to show up at Marion County polling places for Tuesday's primary, delaying voting at some sites for hours.

Roughly 150 inspectors failed to collect election materials -- including ballots and other supplies --on Monday night and workers did not show up Tuesday morning, said Marion County Clerk Beth White, who was overseeing her first election

White accepted blame for many of the delays, which primarily were in southern Marion County. Democratic officials said they were working to resolve the issues, but Republicans said Democrats didn't have enough inspectors to cover all of the county's 917 precincts.

About 100 precincts weren't ready for voting at 6 a.m., when the polls were to open, 6News' Norman Cox reported. At 11 a.m., White said she did not know how many precincts were still closed, but about 20 were reported shut at 8 a.m.

She said she had not decided whether to push back the scheduled 6 p.m. closing time for polls.

In the last few elections, Democrats bitterly criticized the previous county clerk, Republican Doris Anne Sadler, when polls didn't open or machines didn't work properly.

With White at the helm, many of the same problems are evident. In some cases, keys used to unlock voting machines were not delivered.

Precinct workers and voters were frustrated by Tuesday's problems.

"We have precincts that didn't open on time. Poll workers were never assigned locations," said Jennifer Ping, vice-chair of the Marion County GOP. "Voters were disenfranchised by not being able to vote at 6 o'clock. I view that as gross incompetence on our new clerk's part."

Republicans called for an investigation of White's running of the election.

"I think what's clear this morning is I have to do better," White said. "My preparation and my work to get ready for this election was not sufficient and I take full responsibility for that."

Few Expected To Vote In Primary

Party voters across Indiana are choosing candidates for city and town offices for November's elections, but few were expected to cast ballots.

Based on absentee voting, which ended at noon on Monday, White said she expected a light turnout -- 10 to 20 percent of registered voters -- in Marion County.

Some people, citing low interest in primaries, suggest the state should change the way parties choose candidates to represent them in November elections. Allowing parties to chose candidates at countywide or statewide conventions -- the way they do now for minor statewide offices -- would save money, advocates say.

"It costs about half a million dollars to run an election in Marion County," White said. "All the money we spend, not only on the people, but the technology, printing of ballots, running the equipment and preparing the kits. So, it would be a more cost-effective approach for the county."

Much of the money that pays for primaries comes from property taxes. Still, most people with whom 6News talked on Monday said they wouldn't support a change.

Another cost-saving possibility is to move city and town elections to even-numbered years, which is when state and national elections take place.

White said she doesn't like that idea because she thinks municipal races would be overshadowed by state and national contests. She said it also would yield too much governmental turnover at one time.

State Democratic Chairman Dan Parker and Republican Senate Election Committee Chairman Connie Lawson both oppose changing the system.

Lawson said some primaries attract plenty of interest. She also said ditching primaries could eliminate significant voter input in areas dominated by one party.

Polls are scheduled to be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. 6News and TheIndyChannel.com will have results Tuesday evening.