Voting machine failure goes viral

Nov 07

Web Only

Voting machine failure goes viral

The first interview with the man behind a video of a defective voting machine.

Screen shot of YouTube video uploaded by "centralpavote".

As Americans across the country cast their vote for the next president, reports of alleged voter fraud have come up. One video in particular, which shows a faulty voting machine selecting Republican candidate Mitt Romney, has gone viral. Al Jazeera English has obtained the first interview with the Pennsylvania voter who uploaded the video:

View the story "Voting machine failure goes viral" on StorifyVoting machine failure goes viralFirst interview with the US man who videotaped a faulty touchscreen voting machine. Storified by The Stream · Tue, Nov 06 2012 16:27:06Audio 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 MachineAJstreamThe 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 : politicsMSNBC 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 — MSNBCHowever, 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 JonesAl 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 QuoteAJstreamTwitter 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/RDBbH1r0bDamn problems with electronic voting machines in Pennsylvania. Why can't we have a uniform voting system? #ElectionDay2012Zahra NealyIn Canada we vote with a paper ballot and a pen. No voting machine fraud. No misunderstanding. Why is that so hard for you, America?NickI 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 WardMeanwhile, 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-obamaCoreyNYCCORRUPTED! 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 DenhartSome 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 MatasarPROTIP: Videos of machines changing votes is bad calibration, not fraud. You think an altered voting machine would SHOW you? Voter, please!Mr. FancyPanthsOthers 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. #HowStrangeDoddMore & more reports of voter fraud reporting that electronic machines are switching the screen to Obama after Romney was chosen!#whatashockJim WagySome 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...ScatterbrainedGeniusVoting makes me worry about making a mistake. It's happened before!ChristopherA 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