Election Officials Dismiss Vote-Flipping Claims as Machine Miscalibration
Election officials and experts attribute reports of touchscreen voting machine errors in five states to user error and screen miscalibration rather than systemic fraud.
Voters in Kansas, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas reported issues with touchscreen voting machines during early voting for the November midterm elections. Many users claimed machines flipped their selections to Republican candidates, leading to social media allegations of partisan rigging. In Tennessee, reports emerged from Williamson and Davidson counties, including one voter who claimed her selection defaulted to Senator Marsha Blackburn.
Election officials and experts have dismissed claims of systemic fraud, attributing the incidents to user error or screen miscalibration on older devices. Kristin Miles, president of the Texas Association of County Election Officials, stated that nearly every case relates to calibration rather than a change to a vote. David Becker of the Center for Election Innovation and Research characterized the claims as understandable human error, comparing the incidents to accidental phone dials.
In Tennessee, Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins emphasized that safeguards, including summary screens and final paper records, ensure accuracy. In Knox County, Administrator Chris Davis reported a smooth process, noting that only two ballots out of 43,000 required switching due to worker error. Election Systems & Software, the manufacturer of the ExpressVote devices used in several affected areas, reported no widespread issues and advised voters to seek assistance from poll workers if they encounter difficulties.
