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trailmonkee

(2,681 posts)
Tue Nov 6, 2012, 12:54 PM Nov 2012

Video of Irregular Voting Machine Goes Viral After Being Posted On Reddit [View all]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by muriel_volestrangler (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Mediaite



Many people have expressed some concern over potential voting irregularities, and already someone has captured video of one such potential irregularity. YouTube user centralpavote uploaded a video earlier today of a voting machine that appears to misdetect a touch-screen vote for President Obama as a vote for Mitt Romney. The video went viral after being posted on Reddit, and as of now is currently on the site’s front page.

After the video was posted on Reddit, the user who uploaded it to YouTube commented on the thread to claim he tried to vote for Obama, but when he pushed the touch-screen button for the president, Romney’s name was selected instead.

Being a software developer, I immediately went into troubleshoot mode. I first thought the calibration was off and tried selecting Jill Stein to actually highlight Obama. Nope. Jill Stein was selected just fine. Next I deselected her and started at the top of Romney’s name and started tapping very closely together to find the ‘active areas’. From the top of Romney’s button down to the bottom of the black checkbox beside Obama’s name was all active for Romney. From the bottom of that same checkbox to the bottom of the Obama button (basically a small white sliver) is what let me choose Obama. Stein’s button was fine. All other buttons worked fine.

Read more: http://www.mediaite.com/online/video-of-irregular-voting-machine-goes-viral-after-being-posted-on-reddit/



Notes from the guy who posted the video on Reddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/12q6wu/2012_voting_machine_altering_votes/c6x8sbi

I'm the guy who shot the video, hopefully this doesn't get burried. You guys have questions, I have answers.
My wife and I went to the voting booths this morning before work. There were 4 older ladies running the show and 3 voting booths that are similar to a science fair project in how they fold up. They had an oval VOTE logo on top center and a cartridge slot on the left that the volunteers used to start your ballot.

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. Being a software developer, I immediately went into troubleshoot mode. I first thought the calibration was off and tried selecting Jill Stein to actually highlight Obama. Nope. Jill Stein was selected just fine. Next I deselected her and started at the top of Romney's name and started tapping very closely together to find the 'active areas'. From the top of Romney's button down to the bottom of the black checkbox beside Obama's name was all active for Romney. From the bottom of that same checkbox to the bottom of the Obama button (basically a small white sliver) is what let me choose Obama. Stein's button was fine. All other buttons worked fine.

I asked the voters on either side of me if they had any problems and they reported they did not. I then called over a volunteer to have a look at it. She him hawed for a bit then calmly said "It's nothing to worry about, everything will be OK." and went back to what she was doing. I then recorded this video.

EDIT: There is a lot of speculation that the footage is edited. I'm not a video guy, but if it's possible to prove whether a video has been altered or not, I will GLADLY provide the raw footage to anyone who is willing to do so. The jumping frames are a result of the shitty camera app on my Android phone, nothing more.

EDIT2: I have been contacted by NBC Universal and BBC News.

EDIT3: A lot of news agencies are now messaging me here. Please email centralpavote@gmail.com instead.
49 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
HAND-COUNTED PAPER BALLOTS!!!! Roland99 Nov 2012 #1
+1 redqueen Nov 2012 #9
Agreed. As long as ballots get hand-marked. cprise Nov 2012 #19
We use them in Canada! MAD Dave Nov 2012 #31
+2 N_E_1 for Tennis Nov 2012 #32
+ Voters' Guides like the ones used in Oregon, delivered to people's homes 1 month patrice Nov 2012 #35
Agreed! Desire for instant results is a disease. Get rid of ALL voting machines. Count paper ballots Bernardo de La Paz Nov 2012 #39
where is this? Estevan Nov 2012 #2
It is apparently from PA. Flipper999 Nov 2012 #3
Now, do we know why the Repigs and the MSM think PA will be close? Supersedeas Nov 2012 #37
Why do every single one of these "coincidences" favor 'Pukes? (he asked rhetorically) nt Guy Whitey Corngood Nov 2012 #4
Because this is DU. If someone had one of an apparent glitch favoring the President... slackmaster Nov 2012 #7
How many "glitches" have you read about which helped Gore or Kerry anywhere in Guy Whitey Corngood Nov 2012 #12
This is from 08.... Gives straight ticket Dem vote to McCain. TalkingDog Nov 2012 #22
08 Problems nationwide where the votes would switch to Bush TalkingDog Nov 2012 #23
Romney switching to Obama and Obama switching to Romney in CO TalkingDog Nov 2012 #25
No video, but OH complaints about EV Obama votes switching to Romney TalkingDog Nov 2012 #28
You don't have to tell me. Tell the guy i was replying to. I'm still waiting for him to answer Guy Whitey Corngood Nov 2012 #29
This guy has researched it and says he has a solution! TalkingDog Nov 2012 #30
I don't remember any. But I don't remember very many that favored Bush either. slackmaster Nov 2012 #47
If I find one, I'll post it. TalkingDog Nov 2012 #21
So will I. BouzoukiKing Nov 2012 #26
K&R ... Bigtime! Bozita Nov 2012 #5
America has some disgraceful methods of voting. 12 years, and we're still idiots. Gregorian Nov 2012 #6
Its fake... Evasporque Nov 2012 #8
Works just like the touchscreen registers at work jenw2 Nov 2012 #10
my impression InsultComicDog Nov 2012 #11
This is at least the 3rd thread on this. It sounds like bullshit to me. randome Nov 2012 #13
To me, this means that a legal action should be filed right now in PA and the votes should be placed kelliekat44 Nov 2012 #14
Republicans Can NOT Be Trusted. Megahurtz Nov 2012 #15
So how did you complete your vote? Did you request that the machine be shut down? Is that machine Liberal In Red State Nov 2012 #16
instead of 911 call... joy2u2 Nov 2012 #36
When did this voting take place? the date indicated January. Must confirm. kelliekat44 Nov 2012 #17
It MUST BE A FAKE! Because if u're going to steal a vote why would you need to boingboinh Nov 2012 #18
MSNBC saying the machine has been pulled from service LadyHawkAZ Nov 2012 #20
And of course YouTube locked the view count at 309. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2012 #24
So glad this was recorded, that it's going viral, and being picked up by MSM. But now what?? NoOtherMedicineNovel Nov 2012 #27
Just now on Tamron Hall, MSNBC... SoapBox Nov 2012 #33
MSNBC Sophiegirl Nov 2012 #38
MSNBC TinCup Nov 2012 #34
re:Video of Irregular Voting Machine Goes Viral After Being Posted On Reddit allan01 Nov 2012 #40
Hopefully this issue will now be brought into some serious discussion. riderinthestorm Nov 2012 #41
How many people voted for Obama on that same machine before him StarryNite Nov 2012 #42
If true, they need to shut down the machine, but sevenseas Nov 2012 #43
Sorry, he IS touching the Obama button and not even ever gets close to romney Dont call me Shirley Nov 2012 #45
Thanks for exposing the evil gop machine! Dont call me Shirley Nov 2012 #44
Can't get the vid, but it seems unlikely toby jo Nov 2012 #46
Hopefully, people don't stay home because of this video Coyotl Nov 2012 #48
Locking - duplicate thread muriel_volestrangler Nov 2012 #49
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