Shortly earlier than Election Day, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson talked a couple of programming error with some Dominion Voting Techniques machines used within the state. However some social media customers misconstrued this as proof of widespread interference within the 2024 election.
An Oct. 30 Instagram publish shared a video of Benson answering a query at an Oct. 28 press briefing about an issue with split-ticket voting utilizing a selected sort of Dominion voting machine. Benson initially mentioned the programming subject was “a nationwide subject,” however her workplace and Dominion clarified Oct. 30 this was taking place solely in Michigan.
Textual content on the Instagram publish learn, “It’s now been confirmed by Dominion that their voting machines have a programming subject that can have an effect on vote counts, however you possibly can’t discuss it as a result of our injustice system will bankrupt you for criticizing them.”
(Screenshot from Instagram)
One other Instagram publish shared the video of Benson with a textual content sticker that learn, “Rigged once more.”
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Billionaire Elon Musk and different X customers additionally shared the Benson video. One consumer mentioned this voting machine downside was “stopping voters from guaranteeing choices.”
“In response to (Benson’s) workplace, this ‘programming subject’ CANNOT be mounted, and voters are being pressured to take care of it,” the X consumer wrote. This X publish acquired hundreds of thousands of views.
The Michigan Division of State mentioned in an Oct. 25 assertion that the programming snag has made voting extra inconvenient for some voters, nevertheless it hasn’t prevented any voters from casting ballots.
The issue is particular to voters utilizing Dominion’s voter help terminals, or VATs, that are designed to assist voters with disabilities, the division mentioned. All Michigan voting places are required to have voter help terminals, however not all the state’s voting machines are designed by Dominion. Sixty-five of Michigan’s 83 counties use Dominion voting gear.
If a voter utilizing the sort of machine selects the “straight-party” choice to vote for all candidates of 1 occasion, however then decides to vote for a candidate of a unique occasion, the voter will obtain an error message, the state division mentioned.
To repair the issue, “the voter might want to return and de-select their straight-party choice and vote for candidates within the races individually or vote straight occasion with out splitting their ticket,” the state division mentioned.
Dominion issued an announcement Oct. 25 with comparable directions for Michigan voters utilizing the voter help terminals.
“Voters searching for to vote for a single occasion for all contests can use the straight-party choice,” Dominion mentioned. “Voters searching for to separate their ticket by selecting a number of candidates of a unique political occasion must be suggested to not choose the straight-party voting choice.”
Dominion mentioned in an Oct. 30 assertion that this programming error was not taking place with voter help terminals in different states which have straight-ticket voting. The voting gear firm mentioned the Michigan secretary of state’s workplace up to date its web site Oct. 30 to make clear that the issue was particular to Michigan.
In Michigan, voters sometimes have the choice to vote straight-party however then override their occasion choice for particular person races, the state division mentioned.
Voters will have the ability to assessment their choices earlier than printing their ballots and placing them within the scanner for tabulation, the state division mentioned.
The state division mentioned it’s unattainable to repair the voter help terminals’ programming this near Election Day, however the issue will likely be corrected for future elections.
“Though the problem is not going to cease individuals from voting or making their most well-liked choices, and it’ll not change anybody’s votes, it can make the method extra inconvenient for some voters utilizing the VATs,” the state division mentioned.
Our ruling
An Instagram publish claimed, “It’s now been confirmed by Dominion that their voting machines have a programming subject that can have an effect on vote counts.”
Michigan voters utilizing Dominion’s voter help terminals who choose straight-ticket voting after which resolve to vote throughout occasion traces will obtain an error message due to a programming subject, the Michigan State Division mentioned. This may be mounted by deselecting the straight-ticket voting choice and selecting candidates individually, or by voting just for candidates of the identical political occasion.
The Michigan Division of State mentioned the programming error may very well be inconvenient to voters, nevertheless it received’t block them from casting ballots. All voters will have the ability to forged ballots with their chosen candidates. Dominion didn’t say this downside will have an effect on vote counts.
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