[View the story "Voting machine failure goes viral" on Storify ]Voting machine failure goes viral First interview with the US man who videotaped a faulty touchscreen voting machine. Storified by The Stream · Tue, Nov 06 2012 16:27:06
Audio Interview with pavoter by user544969727Listen to Audio Interview with pavoter by user544969727 | Create, record and share the sounds you create anywhere to friends, family and ...
Take a look at the original video that shows him attempting to cast a vote for Barack Obama:
2012 Voting Machines Altering Votescentralpavote
Al Jazeera verified the identity of "centralpavote" by asking him to modify his video description on YouTube. In it, he says his first media interview was given to Al Jazeera:
Voting MachineAJstream
The Pennsylvania voter also uploaded the video onto the social news forum Reddit, and the posting has generated
over 6,000 comments to-date.
I initially selected Obama but Romney was highlighted. I assumed it was being picky so I deselected Romney and tried Obama again, this time more carefully, and still got Romney.2012 voting machine altering votes : politics
MSNBC then
reported at 12:52 p.m. EST that a voting machine in Pennsylvania was taken offline after the video surfaced:
A Pennsylvania electronic voting machine has been taken out of service after being captured on video changing a vote for President Obama into one for Mitt Romney, NBC News has confirmed.Machine turns vote for Obama into one for Romney — MSNBC
However, the magazine Mother Jones
reported earlier at 11:14 a.m. EST that an electronic voting machine, presumably the same one as the one uploaded onto YouTube by "centralpavote", has been recalibrated and is now back in use:
"There was a single complaint, so they recalibrated the machine, did a test run, and put it back online. We've had no complaints since then," Keeler says. While he couldn't say for certain that this was the machine that "centralpavoter" attempted to use, he added that "we believe they are probably connected."Romney-Loving Voting Machine "Recalibrated" and Back Online | Mother Jones
Al Jazeera spoke with Mathew Keeler, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of State. Keeler confirmed the voting machine was taken out of circulation and recalibrated before going back up online:
Keeler QuoteAJstream
Twitter users have been swift to react. Many voiced concerns about the reliability of electronic voting machines and called for reforms:
This is why voting machines need to print a paper receipt that can be verified by the voter and used for recounts. http://soup.ps/RDBbH1r0b
Damn problems with electronic voting machines in Pennsylvania. Why can't we have a uniform voting system? #ElectionDay2012Zahra Nealy
In Canada we vote with a paper ballot and a pen. No voting machine fraud. No misunderstanding. Why is that so hard for you, America?Nick
I just don't believe electronic voting should be allowed for all kinds of logical reasons. This is one 'em. http://jezebel.com/5958108/oh-lovely-at-least-one-voting-machine-in-pennsylvania-isnt-accepting-votes-for-obamaBrian Ward
Meanwhile, voters from both the Democratic and Republican parties have blamed the other for voter fraud:
GOP voter fraud!!!! Watch This Voting Machine Hilariously Refuse To Accept A Vote For Barack Obama http://wonkette.com/488754/watch-this-pennsylvania-voting-machine-hilariously-refuse-to-accept-a-vote-for-barack-obamaCoreyNYC
CORRUPTED! MORE OBAMA FRAUD!RNC alleges voting machine troubles in Nevada, other swing states.http://www.rgj.com/article/20121101/NEWS19/121101029/Republican-National-Committee-alleges-voting-machine-troubles-Nevada-other-swing-states?nclick_check=1#tcot #ocra #lnyhbtChris Denhart
Some were sceptical or critical of those who implied that the machine malfunction may have been deliberate:
Folks stressing about voting machines: the videos I've seen look like uncalibrated touch screens, not malfeasance or conspiracy.Ben Matasar
PROTIP: Videos of machines changing votes is bad calibration, not fraud. You think an altered voting machine would SHOW you? Voter, please!Mr. FancyPanths
Others point to what they believe is unbalanced or misleading mainstream and social media coverage of alleged voter fraud:
None of these people posted any of the several stories during early voting about voting machines switching #Romney votes. #HowStrangeDodd
More & more reports of voter fraud reporting that electronic machines are switching the screen to Obama after Romney was chosen!#whatashockJim Wagy
Some highlighted the fact that faulty machines and voting mistakes are not new:
Just saw a video of a voting machine in Pennsylvania that doesn't allow votes for Obama.. I'm not surprised.. Happened in 2000 too...ScatterbrainedGenius
Voting makes me worry about making a mistake. It's happened before!Christopher
A similar incident, which cannot be independently verified, was reported in the US state of West Virginia during the 2008 presidential election:
WV Vote Flipping Caught on Tapevideothevote