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Hi, Texplainer: I hear about voting machines that alter the selections of some voters to vote. Which give?
Voters from across the state reported something curious at the polls this week: they wanted to vote directly, but when they reviewed their final list of selected candidates, a person from one adverse party has been chosen.
Some people wondered if there had been malfeasance. Others have blamed the malfunction of voting machines. And Democrats and Republicans have tried to warn voters of their respective parties.
? ALERT: We received several reports from electors who voted with the right to vote, and then saw on a subsequent screen that their votes had been changed to a vote of the opposite party. You must check your ballot before proceeding to vote to make sure it is correct, and you can ask for the help of an election officer.
– Texas Civil Rights Project (@TXCivilRights) October 25, 2018
But according to Texas Secretary of State, voting machines are not in question. The reported problems result rather from the fact that "voters have pressed a button or used the selection wheel before the screen rendering is complete", which deselects the pre-filled candidate selection.
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"The question arises mainly with the selections of the race in the US Senate because it is at the top of the poll," said Sam Taylor, a spokesman for the secretary of state.
The problem arises with the Hart eSlate voting machines, used in 82 of the 254 counties in Texas. About 7.2 million registered voters live in these counties, accounting for 46% of registered voters across the state. And three of the five counties with the highest number of registered voters, Harris, Tarrant and Travis, use them. Hart InterCivic eSlate has not responded to a request for comment.
So what should you do if you are in one of these counties? Easy. Check all your votes before submitting your vote.
According to the Secretary of State, the Hart eSlate voting machines have an "Entry" button and a selection dial to help voters choose the candidate of their choice. The office advises voters to use one button at a time and not to press the "Enter" button or use the Select Dial until the page is fully rendered.
"If Texans have problems, they should immediately seek the help of a polling station employee and not vote until they have carefully reviewed the summary screen in the end for Make sure all their selections are listed correctly, "said Taylor in The Texas Tribune statement.
The Secretary of State's office does not have the legal authority to require a supplier to upgrade if its voting system complies with federal and state laws. Counties are also responsible for the purchase of their own voting equipment. Hart eSlate's systems were certified in 2009, according to the Associated Press.
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It should be noted, however, that voting on the right wing will not take place for long. Last year, Governor Greg. Abbott has signed a bill that will eliminate the option of "one-shot" ballot voting in Texas starting in 2020.
Early voting ends on November 2nd. Election Day is November 6th.
The bottom line: Voting machines do not work badly. The Secretary of State advises Texans to check their ballots and re-check all votes cast before submitting their final ballot.
Chris Essig contributed to this report.
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