False claims of voting machines "switching" votes are spreading—here’s what you need to know
As early voting began in Texas on October 21, claims circulated online alleging that ballot machines in Tarrant County — one of the state's largest counties and home to Fort Worth — were "switching" votes. However, election officials dismissed these allegations, explaining that any errors were due to human mistakes, not machine tampering. Similar unfounded claims have also emerged in Tennessee and Georgia, with election officials in both states attributing the issues to voter error. Read More....
According to election security experts, claims of vote-switching by machines have circulated for years, but there is no evidence that machines are programmed or hacked to alter ballots. David Becker, a CBS News election law contributor, noted that such claims, which date back to at least 2004, are often based on isolated human errors rather than systemic fraud. Read More...
In Tarrant County, officials reported only one misprinted ballot out of 58,000 on the first day of early voting, attributing it to voter error. Meanwhile, in Georgia, officials also debunked allegations made by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene about a Dominion machine allegedly altering a vote. State officials, including the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office, confirmed that this issue was resolved at the polling location and was also due to human error.
In Tennessee, Democratic Rep. Antonio Parkinson raised similar concerns about votes changing for different candidates, but the Shelby County Election Commission found no irregularities and encouraged voters to double-check their selections. Read More...
Election security has been a key focus since the 2020 election, when false claims about Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic spread widely. In response, Dominion filed defamation lawsuits, resulting in a $787 million settlement with Fox News in 2023. Voting security concerns have continued in the lead-up to 2024, with some of former President Donald Trump’s supporters, including Elon Musk, questioning machine integrity.
Experts emphasize that voting machines are thoroughly tested before and after elections. Derek Tisler from the Brennan Center noted that paper records now accompany around 98% of votes cast, providing a backup in case of machine errors. Election officials can review these paper records after the election to verify results.
J. Alex Halderman, a computer science professor and election security expert, highlighted that hand-marked paper ballots are the "gold standard" for accuracy, with about 70% of voters in the U.S. using this method. While machines can encounter minor technical issues, voters are urged to carefully review their selections before submitting their ballots to ensure their vote is recorded accurately. Read More...