Kentucky Voter Reports Machine Glitch, Officials Later Confirm Malfunction

In an incident raising questions about voting technology, a Kentucky voter reported being unable to select Donald Trump and his running mate on a touchscreen voting machine. The unidentified voter, who shared the experience on social media, recorded video evidence showing that the device would not allow him to choose Trump.

Instead, the machine erroneously selected the Democratic candidates, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, when he tried to select the Trump option. This video has since sparked discussions on social media, where some questioned its authenticity. Popular social media user Nick Sortor amplified the video, which showed the repeated attempts of the voter to select Trump’s ticket. Sortor’s post read:

“NEW: Some voting machines in Kentucky are NOT ALLOWING voters to select President Trump. Instead, when they tap ‘Trump,’ Kamala Harris ends up being selected. Add it to the list of reasons to switch to paper ballots. Why does this always seem to happen in one direction and not the other?”

🚨 NEW: Some voting machines in Kentucky are NOT ALLOWING voters to select President Trump.

Instead, when they tap “Trump,” Kamala Harris ends up being selected.

Add it to the list of reasons to switch to paper ballots.

Why does this always seem happen in one direction and not… pic.twitter.com/2QOO93DS1v

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) October 31, 2024

The viral video caught the attention of Laurel County Clerk Tony Brown, who initially disputed the allegations. Brown later took to Facebook to confirm that a voting machine at the center was indeed malfunctioning. This reversal, hours after an initial statement that downplayed the issue, acknowledged that the touchscreen voting machine experienced the same error recorded in the video.

After receiving complaints, officials from the Kentucky Attorney General’s office visited the site to investigate. In their attempts to replicate the malfunction, the investigators discovered that the machine would sometimes select the opposing candidate if voters touched a sensitive area between candidate boxes. However, after several tries, they were unable to consistently reproduce the problem. This prompted election officials to issue clarifications about the functionality of the ballot marking device to alleviate growing concerns over potential interference.

In his Facebook post, Brown explained that the device in question is a ballot-marking machine, which requires voters to insert a blank ballot to make their selections. The machine shows each choice for review before printing the ballot. Voters have multiple chances to confirm their selections before their ballots are counted. If a voter makes a mistake, Kentucky law allows them two additional attempts to re-cast their ballot with a new paper slip. Once the voter is satisfied, they can place the completed ballot into a scanner for counting.

In response to the malfunction, Brown provided a detailed explanation of the voting machine’s sensitivity, noting that voters must press carefully within a candidate’s name box to avoid triggering the wrong choice. According to Brown, the device used in the video was kept out of service until an official investigation was completed. He also stated that there had been no prior reports of issues with the machine before this incident, nor complaints since the machine was returned to service. The voter who filmed the malfunction ultimately verified that her ballot reflected her intended choices before submission.

Brown expressed his regret over the incident, writing, “I hate that this has occurred here in Laurel County. We strive to have accurate, secure, and safe elections that we are proud to provide to our citizens.” He assured voters that the machine’s removal from service was intended to maintain the integrity of the voting process and to avoid any misinterpretations about the device’s reliability. The post concluded by encouraging citizens to vote and monitor their selections carefully.

The incident fueled speculation online, with many users expressing frustrations over perceived election vulnerabilities. Sortor’s tweet, which highlighted the video, questioned why such issues seem to arise more frequently when selecting certain candidates. Many respondents echoed calls to switch entirely to paper ballots, arguing that electronic machines are vulnerable to manipulation or malfunctions.

Proponents of election security argue that ballot-marking devices, while convenient, may require further oversight to prevent errors from affecting the final vote count. Observers pointed out that while the glitch was caught and confirmed in this instance, there is no telling how many other machines could potentially produce similar issues. This raises questions about the dependability of touchscreen devices and the degree of oversight necessary to prevent errors.

Critics of touchscreen voting have long argued that these machines should have safeguards to ensure that voters can reliably select their choices. They recommend that voters double-check each selection throughout the process, as even minor issues can impact voter confidence. In response to the Kentucky incident, election integrity advocates reminded voters to be vigilant and to review their ballots multiple times.

For officials and voters alike, this incident emphasizes the importance of election transparency and accountability. Election integrity groups encourage voters to be mindful of the devices used in their precincts, familiarize themselves with backup procedures for re-casting votes if errors occur, and immediately report any malfunctions to election authorities. As a preventive measure, some advocates suggest adding technical checks to screen for touchscreen sensitivities that could affect user choices.

Meanwhile, Kentucky’s election officials and the Attorney General’s office have pledged to monitor and address any further issues with the machines to ensure accuracy for all voters. Brown’s office stated they would conduct regular reviews of the devices in use, especially after this incident, which has garnered national attention. As officials work to prevent further disruptions, the Laurel County Clerk’s office emphasized that all voting machines are tested for accuracy and rechecked after any issues arise to maintain trust in the voting process.

The event has rekindled calls to examine whether digital voting devices should be phased out in favor of paper ballots or enhanced with additional failsafe features. The push for paper ballots continues to gain momentum, as incidents like the one in Kentucky add to mounting concerns over the reliability of electronic voting systems.