Reports from Tennessee say voting machine touch screens jumped to the wrong candidate, not the one voters intended.
Specifically, reports of people trying to vote for the Democratic candidate for Governor Jerri Green, and switching the vote to Republican Marsha Blackburn. Voters in Davidson, Williamson, and Madison counties have reported it.
Take a breath. Here’s what’s really going on.
State election officials say these reports trace back to accidental touches, a fingertip grazing the box above your pick. Nashville saw the same thing in 2024; it happens rarely, but more often than you might think, and there’s no sign of foul play.
Here’s how it works. A poll worker hands you a blank ballot card. You slide it into the machine and make your picks on the screen. The machine prints your choices onto that same card. That printed card is your official ballot, and it’s what gets counted.
Five things to know
1. Ask for a stir stick or a Q-tip or something like it. Poll workers usually have them on hand. Use it on the screen for more accurate touch.
2. Tap the middle of the name/box on the screen.
3. Make sure your pick turns green, then check the review screen.
4. Check your paper ballot! Before you put that card in the scanner, read every name on it.
5. If anything’s wrong, stop. Don’t scan it. Hand it to a poll worker. They’ll void it and give you a fresh card. You can also call 866-OUR-VOTE for further help.
Remember: the completed paper ballot is your vote.
Be nice and check twice. Vote once.
Slade Wentworth | The Dad Briefs covers the civic, political, and quietly human stories that shape family life in America, with recipes along the way.
