November 4, 2024
Amid concerns over voting machine malfunctions in Michigan, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson recently informed journalists that Dominion Voting Systems equipment, particularly the Voter Assist Terminal (VAT) machines for disabled voters, were experiencing issues with straight-party voting. The announcement comes as Michigan, a critical swing state, opened early voting and ballot tabulation last week. Benson’s statement that this issue affects Dominion machines “nationwide” has drawn criticism, including a prompt correction from Dominion itself, which clarified that the issue is specific to Michigan.
The issue, Benson explained, affects VAT machines used by disabled voters to assist in ballot marking. Benson recommended that voters avoid using the straight-ticket voting option and instead manually fill out each race on the ballot to ensure accuracy. The VAT malfunction could prevent the proper recording of straight-party selections, impacting down-ballot races, which could affect close contests in local and state elections.
Clarification and Response from Dominion Voting Systems
Dominion Voting Systems issued a response on October 30, countering Benson’s “nationwide” claims. According to Dominion, Michigan is the only state experiencing this specific issue due to its unique straight-party voting system. Dominion stated that it had informed Michigan election officials of the issue in a September advisory and requested a correction from Benson’s office, emphasizing that no other states using Dominion machines offer the straight-party option.
In their statement, Dominion further highlighted that Michigan’s Secretary of State office confirmed there is “no issue preventing any voters from making their preferred selections and casting their paper ballot.” Dominion added a link to the Michigan Department of State’s Election Fact Center, which updated its information to confirm that the issue is indeed limited to Michigan.
Public and Political Reaction
The announcement and subsequent clarification from Dominion have sparked reactions across the political spectrum. Representative Matt Maddock (R-MI) openly criticized Benson, suggesting that voting machines should either be open-sourced or dismantled, expressing skepticism about the machines’ reliability. Former State Senator Patrick Colbeck also weighed in, tweeting his surprise that Dominion challenged Benson’s claims, a move he described as unprecedented.
True the Vote, an election integrity group, voiced concerns that the reported VAT machine issue might suppress straight-ticket voting and potentially benefit certain candidates if voters inadvertently miss down-ballot races. They questioned why this problem was only highlighted close to Election Day, suggesting that it could undermine confidence in the voting process.
Broader Implications for Election Integrity
While Benson assured voters that Michigan election officials are working to resolve the issue and collaborating with Dominion, some critics suggest that the timing of this announcement may deter voters from straight-ticket voting. Additionally, the incident raises questions about election preparedness and the reliability of voting technology, particularly in battleground states like Michigan where every vote could sway key races.
In the wake of the controversy, some have called for increased transparency and accountability regarding voting machines and software. Dominion Voting Systems, already a subject of intense scrutiny and lawsuits following the 2020 election, has yet to indicate whether it will take further action in response to Benson’s statements.
As Election Day approaches, Michigan voters using VAT machines are advised to double-check their ballots to ensure that their votes are recorded accurately, especially if they choose the straight-party voting option.
Sources
- Dominion Voting Systems, “Dominion Statement on Michigan Split Ticket Voting Claims,” October 30, 2024. Dominion Voting Systems
- Patrick Colbeck, Twitter, November 4, 2024. @pjcolbeck
- True the Vote, Twitter, October 30, 2024. @TrueTheVote
