Author Archives: Warren Stewart

Georgia: ‘Nightmarish’ or simple switch? After voting machine trial, a federal judge’s decision may lead to hand marking paper ballots | Timothy Pratt/Atlanta Civic Circle

A federal trial spanning nearly three weeks concerning the constitutionality of Georgia's voting machines concluded, with the state's defense focusing on costs and logistics rather than cybersecurity, the central concern of the plaintiffs. The trial, initiated six years ago, involves an election integrity nonprofit and Georgia voters against the Secretary of State's Office, alleging that the state's computerized voting machines pose a hacking risk, violating voters' constitutional rights. The plaintiffs argued for enjoining the use of Dominion Voting Systems touchscreen machines, potentially shifting to hand marked ballots for the upcoming presidential election. The defense emphasized the impracticality and costs of such a transition, lacking cybersecurity experts in their witness lineup. The trial also highlighted the Coffee County incident, dubbed the largest elections systems breach in U.S. history, as a central issue, underscoring concerns over voting system vulnerabilities. Despite logistical concerns raised by the state, plaintiffs pointed out the state's successful transition to current machines within 10 months, urging a similar adjustment. Read Article

Georgia Senate approves ban on counting ballots from QR codes | Mark Niesse/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Georgia Senate, voting along party lines, has approved a bill to eliminate the use of bar codes on ballots, opting instead to count votes directly from printed text or filled-in ovals next to candidate names. Republicans argue that this change would enhance election security and minimize the risk of tampering, although there's no evidence of breaches in Georgia's voting machines during elections. However, implementing this change before the upcoming presidential election appears unlikely due to time constraints and the associated costs, estimated at $15 million or more. While Democrats criticize the proposal as costly and impractical, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger maintains that Georgia's voting system is secure as is, and eliminating QR codes before the presidential election would be unfeasible. Read Article

Georgia election security trial becomes a magnet for unfounded 2020 fraud claims | Mark Niesse/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

In a federal trial initially centered on the security of Dominion voting machines in Georgia, conservative interests have successfully co-opted the proceedings, steering the narrative towards unproven accusations of wrongdoing in the 2020 presidential election. Originally filed in 2017 by voters concerned about the safety of electronic voting equipment, the trial now features claims of "pristine" counterfeit ballots, ballot tampering, and baseless allegations of wireless access to voting machines. Figures like "My Pillow Guy" Mike Lindell have amplified these conspiracy theories, diverting attention from the primary plaintiffs' argument that electronic voting machines are unsafe for future use. Critics argue that the trial's focus on unfounded claims risks undermining the credibility of the case, distracting from the crucial issue of election security. Read Article

Georgia voting machine trial closes with argument over election security | Mark Niesse/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The 17-day trial questioning the security of Georgia's Dominion voting machines concluded with closing arguments, leaving U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg to decide whether the machines pose an unconstitutional threat to voting rights. The case, which could impact how in-person voters cast their ballots in the upcoming November 2024 election, focused on the potential vulnerability of the $107 million voting system purchased in 2019. Plaintiffs argued for a ban on touchscreens in favor of hand-marked paper ballots, citing concerns about cybersecurity threats and the reliability of the machines. Totenberg did not indicate when she would issue a ruling. Read Article

Georgia: ‘A recipe for violence’: Election officials on edge for ruling from federal judge | John Sakellariadis/Politico

Five years ago, U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg won plaudits from U.S. election officials for forcing Georgia to ditch its electronic voting machines because they were too susceptible to hacks. Now Totenberg is weighing a similar order against the state’s new machines — only this time, a slew of election officials are begging her not to do so. Current and former officials from both parties at the local, state and federal level argue that Georgia’s current voting machines are far less prone to sabotage than their predecessors — which didn’t produce any sort of paper record. But most of all, more than a dozen officials stressed their dread that ordering changes just months ahead of the 2024 presidential vote could undermine trust in the election, overwhelming local election officials and emboldening election deniers all in one breath. Read Article