theglobeandmail.com
Kentucky Voting Machine Misinformation Debunked
A viral video falsely claimed a Kentucky voting machine switched a vote. Election officials investigated and attributed the issue to user error, confirming no vote switching occurred.
English
Canada
PoliticsElectionsUs PoliticsInvestigationMisinformationVoting
Republican National CommitteeKentucky State Board Of ElectionsLaurel County Clerk's Office
Andy BeshearBritany BeshearDonald TrumpKamala HarrisMichael Adams
- Which officials confirmed that no vote switching occurred?
- Multiple officials, including Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams and Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump, confirmed that the ballot marking machine functioned correctly and that no vote switching took place. They stated the issue was due to user error.
- What did election officials determine caused the issue shown in the video?
- The Kentucky State Board of Elections and county officials determined the voter in the video improperly used the touchscreen, causing the machine to register an unintended candidate selection. The voter was able to successfully cast their ballot for their intended candidate.
- What was notable about how the video showing the alleged vote switch was shared online?
- The video's creator shared it on social media, tagging influencers known for promoting election fraud claims, suggesting a possible intent to spread misinformation. Election officials emphasized the incident resulted from user error and did not indicate any voting machine malfunction.
- What is Kentucky's voting process, particularly regarding identification and ballot use?
- Kentucky voters must present a valid photo ID or sign an affirmation to vote. Most counties use hand-marked paper ballots, while some utilize ballot-marking machines which provide a summary and confirmation before printing the ballot.
- What was the false claim circulating on social media regarding the Kentucky ballot-marking machine?
- A video circulating on social media falsely claimed a Kentucky ballot-marking machine switched a vote from Donald Trump to Kamala Harris. Election officials investigated and confirmed no such vote switching occurred; the issue stemmed from user error in operating the machine.