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Article by Olivia Lupia, Tennessee Conservative News –
Reports have come in from several counties in the state claiming voters have experienced difficulties with their ballots using various machines, though election officials have stated many of the issues are likely user error as they reiterated system safeguards and options for voters.
As early voting kicked off, reports began trickling in that some voters’ ballots seemed to be defaulting to a specific candidate or requiring multiple attempts at selecting a candidate before the machine would recognize the choice.
One of these accounts came from Stella Parton, left-wing activist and sister of the late Dolly Parton, who claimed her ballot kept “defaulting” to Republican Marsha Blackburn when she was trying to select a different candidate. Parton confirmed she was able to correct the selection before officially casting her vote, though that did not stop her from taking to social media and telling her followers, “Don’t let them rig this election.”
The Tennessee Secretary of State’s office later said that roughly 400,000 people had early voted by that time and officials had only received one complaint matching the type of issue Parton described.
Other reports, primarily from Democrat voters, also came out of Davidson and Williamson Counties with voters claiming they touched one candidate’s name on the machines but saw another candidate selected despite pushing directly in the middle of the button or screen.
But Davidson County Election Administrator John Richardson said that the touchscreen machines are pressure-reactive, meaning long nails or fingers brushing a different box can result in less precision.
He confirmed the machines in Davidson County are the same that have been used in the county for roughly the last decade and reminded voters that if they have any concerns or change their minds about their vote to talk to a poll official.
Richardson also said reports of voter issues have remained extremely limited and that the county has stir sticks and other plastic tools for voters to use to ensure their vote is accurate.
“We’ve had 65,000 people vote early in Davidson County, and I can count on one hand the number of folks who called in with concerns. For that reason, we’re bringing back the voting sticks to help people voting. Sometimes when they use their finger it doesn’t necessarily connect. We’re bringing back the stir sticks for that reason. So folks would like to use a stir stick like a stylus. They can press the center and that way they can make sure that their vote is property counted,” he said.
Williamson County Administrator of Elections Chad Gray said his office is taking a similar approach, providing voters with styluses at polling locations.
Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins seemed to concur with Richardson’s assessment of potential user error and reiterated that it is not the machine itself that casts a vote, but the paper ballot voters are responsible for reviewing that matters.
“If anyone thinks that it would be intentional that votes would be flipping, there’s no way that someone would do that with all the checks and balances in place because the voter is going to visibly see who they selected at all times throughout the process,” Goins said.
He stated equipment is tested before each election by both Republican and Democrat representatives, and when a problem is reported his office contacts the county and sends technicians from both parties to examine the machine.
Some Democrats are also acknowledging that the machines may not be totally at fault and that it is unlikely that there is any deliberate manipulation occurring.
Nashville Sen. Heidi Campbell said, “Obviously this keeps coming up and it needs to be addressed after this election, because it’s not acceptable that people are having these problems. However, I don’t think it’s indicative of any foul play. I feel confident having talked to [election officials in Davidson County] that it’s user error.”
Officials are reiterating that voters using the machines have three chances to verify their choices between the selection screen, the review screen, and the printed paper ballot that actually gets counted, and is encouraging all voters to take advantage of those opportunities to double-check their votes before submitting their final ballot.
Early voting ends this Thursday, and Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.
Sources:
WSMV.
WSMV.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
