Voters Complain of Vote Switching
By: Kelly James
Updated: November 6, 2012
AMARILLO -- Less than two weeks before the election, rumors are swirling about voting irregularities.
Here in Amarillo, there are complaints that votes for president are being switched on the electronic voting machines.
Ever since states started switching to electronic voting machines we've heard about this complaint of vote switching every election year. And, it comes from both sides.
This year, It's coming from republicans in our area who have said their votes for Mitt Romney were switched to president Obama.
We went to the Santa Fe building in downtown Amarillo to check out the allegations. Every voter we spoke with, who had just cast ballots, said they had no problems.
Potter county elections administrator Knoxie Mathes says vote switching is just a rumor.
She says vote switching instances are usually operator error, meaning the voter mistakenly hit the wrong name on the screen.
Mathes says it's easily fixable by checking your votes on the review screen and changing them to what you want.
There are other myths voters need to be aware of.
One, you do not need a photo ID to vote. You only need your registration card. There are instances when even that's not required.
Secondly, if you vote a straight party ticket, your vote will also include the presidential race.
And, finally, if you vote by absentee ballot it will be counted. Some believe those only count in close elections but, that's simply not true.
Early voting continues through November 2nd
Here in Amarillo, there are complaints that votes for president are being switched on the electronic voting machines.
Ever since states started switching to electronic voting machines we've heard about this complaint of vote switching every election year. And, it comes from both sides.
This year, It's coming from republicans in our area who have said their votes for Mitt Romney were switched to president Obama.
We went to the Santa Fe building in downtown Amarillo to check out the allegations. Every voter we spoke with, who had just cast ballots, said they had no problems.
Potter county elections administrator Knoxie Mathes says vote switching is just a rumor.
She says vote switching instances are usually operator error, meaning the voter mistakenly hit the wrong name on the screen.
Mathes says it's easily fixable by checking your votes on the review screen and changing them to what you want.
There are other myths voters need to be aware of.
One, you do not need a photo ID to vote. You only need your registration card. There are instances when even that's not required.
Secondly, if you vote a straight party ticket, your vote will also include the presidential race.
And, finally, if you vote by absentee ballot it will be counted. Some believe those only count in close elections but, that's simply not true.
Early voting continues through November 2nd
