Dominion Voter Assist Terminals will not work correctly during Michigan’s 2024 election, an issue Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson addressed during a press conference in Detroit on Monday.
“This is a nationwide issue with Dominion access terminals in the counties that use them,” Benson said. “Voter access terminals … have an issue with the straight-party voting and a programming issue that’s, again, affected the machines nationwide,” she added.
“I think all of us that use Dominion voting machines were unhappy to learn about this during the testing period, and as early voting began,” she said. “So we’re working with Dominion to seek accountability on that front, and also are working with our clerks to ensure voters are aware of this programing issue that will require them to ensure they’re voting every section on the ballot.”
Go Ad-Free, Get Content, Go Premium Today - $1 Trial
MORE NEWS: Gretchen Whitmer claims she’s ‘keeping energy costs low’ but Michigan is 10th highest in U.S.
The Secretary of State on Friday announced the Bureau of Elections identified an issue with the programming on Dominion Voter Assist Terminals, which are used by voters with disabilities to mark their ballots.
“Because of this programming issue, voters using Dominion ICX VATs will have to select either the ‘straight party’ option if they wish to vote straight ticket or vote for each race on the partisan selection of the ballot if they wish to split their ticket,” the notice read. “While this is the process used in some other states, it is not the standard in Michigan, where voters have the option to vote straight party but then override their party selection for individual races.”
If voters attempt to select the straight-party option and then override individual selections, they will receive an error message, and will be forced to go back and either vote straight-party or select candidates for each individual race.
Regardless, voters using Dominion VATs will be able to review their selections before officially printing their ballot to make any changes.
Go Ad-Free, Get Content, Go Premium Today - $1 Trial
The Bureau of Elections contends “it is not possible to fix the programming for the affected VATs this close to the election” but promised “the issue will be corrected for future elections.”
“As I’ve talked to my colleagues in other states, they’re just as upset about it as we are,” Benson said at the press conference footage gathered by WLNS.
The issue follows widespread concerns about Dominion machines during the 2020 election that included allegations of vote switching and other complications. Those issues prompted Dominion to host a special webpage titled “Setting the Record Straight: Facts & Rumors.”
“Michigan’s state and local election officials and Dominion have been inundated with outlandish, false allegations about election fraud following the 2020 election. Despite numerous election security experts, Michigan election officials, and U.S. Attorney General William Barr affirming there is no evidence of widespread fraud this election, disinformation persists,” according to the site. “Following the November 2020 general election, the boards of canvassers in all of Michigan’s 83 counties – as well as the board of state canvassers – certified the results.”
All but 18 of Michigan’s 83 counties use Dominion voting equipment. Counties that do not include Bay, Clinton, Eaton, Emmet, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Hillsdale, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Livingston, Macomb, Mason, Montcalm, Muskegon, Oakland, Ottawa, Roscommon, and Washtenaw, according to the Secretary of State’s website.
The programming issue is one of several snafus so far in the 2024 election, with others including four voters charged with felony for double votes in St. Clair Shores, Benson’s incomplete election guidance resulting in thousands of improperly tabulated ballots in Warren, and a candidate left off the ballot in Muskegon County.
And despite election reforms implemented to streamline the counting on Election Day, Benson announced last week she’s not expected to have the results until a full 24 hours after polls close.