Pennsylvania
Related: About this forumElection-denying 'patriot' groups are trying to stop the use of electronic voting machines across PA
(Caption: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, left, talks to Trump supporters outside a political rally in Wilkes-Barre, PA, on Sept. 3. Photo credit Mary Altaffer/Associated Press)
(link) https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2022/09/13/pa-election-deniers-voting-machines-conservative-activists-mike-lindell-seth-keshel-trump-patriot-groups/stories/202209110075
Activists began collecting signatures to get a referendum question on the November ballot to stop the use of electronic voting machines, following a directive from Mr. Trump and his top supporters, including MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and former Army intelligence officer Seth Keshel, who have made careers traveling the country to spread false claims that the 2020 election was stolen.
- snip -
In the years since the 2020 election, Mr. Trumps closest allies have demonized several components of Pennsylvanias election system, such as mail-in voting, ballot drop boxes and now, the use of electronic voting machines. These fears have crept into county government centers all around Pennsylvania and across the country from newly engaged citizens demanding their county commissioners overhaul the states election system back to a pre-21st century one.
Gov. Tom Wolf in 2018 declared that all of Pennsylvanias election systems must be decertified and replaced with ones that produce a paper record that could be checked and verified by the voter. Mr. Wolf took this executive action by recommendation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to prevent government interference in American elections. All of Pennsylvanias election machines needed to be replaced to meet updated security protocols before the 2020 primary election, according to Mr. Wolfs directive.
Since then, Pennsylvania has conducted two statewide recounts: One in November 2021 for a Commonwealth Court seat, and another in the Republican U.S. Senate primary in May 2022. Both recounts found few changes in vote counts, and did not change the outcome of the election.
- more at link -
The new electronic voting machines are secured and certified by the state of Pennsylvania. There's no need to destroy these machines. Let's just Get The Vote Out on November 8th and show these meddlesome Repukes the door!
getagrip_already
(17,396 posts)There should be a physical record of votes cast. While remote, it is possible to "hack" a system to change votes.
And ironically, it was the gop that was pushing for them in the first place.
FakeNoose
(35,516 posts)When you vote in person you will use the certified electronic machine, which is rather easy to understand and use. Then a paper receipt is produced which the voter is allowed to see and approve. (In other words, if a mistake was made it can be corrected immediately.) Then the paper ballots are scanned and all data are collected and reported to the district/county and state data collection centers. The paper ballots are not destroyed in case a recount/audit is needed later.
By our current state law, the scanning of mailed ballots cannot begin until all the voting-day ballots have been collected and verified. This is presumably to prevent people from voting twice, once by mail and then again in person. Double-voting cannot happen in PA because the mailed ballots must be received before the Election Day deadline. All of the safeguards are in place to prevent double voting, however that's not enough for Repukes.
It's true that electronic voting machines - if not secure and certified - can be used to switch votes from D to R on the down-low. It's been proven that it can be done, and it has happened in other states. That's the main reason why Governor Wolf made the investment in all-new voting machines in 2018 that cannot be altered or tampered with. We know that our votes are safe in Pennsylvania and there's no reason to destroy the new electronic machines.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)3auld6phart
(1,249 posts)What the hell is with these sickos? What the hell has that pock marked
Orange bag of grease done for them? We know he is racist and the fools
give him money.as a ffurriner it is none of my business.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)FakeNoose
(35,516 posts)The higher the voter turnout, the more likely the Repukes will lose. And they know this, so they do everything they can think of to depress the turnout.
When voters must go in person to vote in overcrowded polls with long lines, it's much easier to discourage minorities, the elderly, the handicapped, and others to vote. Now that we're dealing with Covid issues there's even more of a health scare involved. Guess what - the Repukes want us to stay home and not vote.
That's why voting by mail is so essential. For those who can't or won't vote by mail - please vote in person by electronic machine. It's safe and secure.
Ferryboat
(1,008 posts)Barcodes, signature and other tamper proof security features.
The only republican I have consistently voted for was Kim Wyman who was in charge of election integrity in WA state. And she was poached by the Biden administration to help secure the vote. Have heard absolutely nothing about what she is currently doing.
Still mail in voting is the only way to go.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)FakeNoose
(35,516 posts)Previous to that I've always voted in person. However I must admit that I really prefer the convenience of voting by mail.
What dismays me is how long it takes to scan the mailed ballots AFTER the election is over. Because of the distrust that the Repukes have built into our system, mailed ballots aren't started until after the in-person voting has all been completed. They want to be sure that those sneaky Democrats don't try to vote TWICE!
We all know that if there's any voter fraud going on, it's the Repukes that will cheat, not the Democrats.
Ferryboat
(1,008 posts)In WA they are counted as they come in so a rough total can be released when polls close.
In PA they wait until the polls close to start counting. Which in 2020 led to claims of fraud when videos of suitcases being wheeled in surfaced when they were actually approved containers of mailed in ballots.
There are many ways rethugs are trying game the process. Mail in goes along ways towards keeping the count honest.