Rock Island Co. replaces voting machine after complaints

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (KWQC) – Rock Island County Clerk Karen Kinney said early voting said a machine in her office changed votes and posted the machine’s serial number, leading others to say the same.

“We changed the car, the one that had the first complaint, just in case the complaint was valid,” Kinney said.

The Illinois Board of Elections called her on Tuesday after receiving a complaint.

Kinney told the board she had already replaced the car last week.

In addition, two weeks before the start of voting, she reported that the device had passed the necessary tests and had no problems.

The person who posted the claims also said Kinney responded that it “happens from time to time.”

“That the car jumps – yes – if you’re using a finger instead of a stylus. Every once in a while, a car might jump up, but someone interrupted what I said,” Kinney said. every chance to fix it.”

Voters have seven opportunities to check their ballots before submitting, she said.

Why do claims continue?

“People heard that this person was in trouble,” Kinney said. “They didn’t know we had replaced the car, so they went to car #1 and demanded the same, just because they saw it on Facebook.”

She said she wants to ensure the trust of Rock Island County voters.

“We do not want to lose the trust of voters. We want them to trust the process and know that the election and their votes are in safe hands and that every vote counts in this office,” Kinney said.

“Your voice is very serious. We take it seriously. We’re very careful about this, so we’re not going to do anything that might compromise your vote; we are not going to do anything to undermine your trust.”

Full interview here:

Rock Island replaces voting machine after complaints

Despite the problems, early voting is still going to polling stations.

SUBSIDIARY VOTING BY NUMBERS

Rock Island County as of October 24: 4,000 in-person voters at the county office; more than 13,000 postal ballots were returned; and more than 3,000 people voted at polling places including Western Illinois University, Milan City Hall and Silvis City Council Chambers.

Scott County as of October 29: Auditor Carrie Tompkins recorded that more than 27,000 people voted. A little more than 17,000 of them are personal voters.

ADD-ON SECURITY

Nationally, two ballot boxes in the Pacific Northwest were damaged in a suspected arson attack just over a week before Election Day, destroying hundreds of ballots at one location in Vancouver, Washington.

In nearby Portland, Oregon, the fire suppression system contained the fire and only three ballots were damaged.

Law enforcement officers are reviewing surveillance footage, trying to identify the culprits.

Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia allow drop-off ballot boxes. Placement may vary. In some communities, they are located in public buildings and are only available during business hours.

In other locations, such as Scott and Rock Island counties, they are outside and available at all hours. Local election officials said the drop boxes here are monitored and checked regularly.

Tompkins said Iowa law allows only one drop box per county. Scott County is located near the administration building in Davenport.

“It’s under camera. We’re right next door to the sheriff’s department, so I think we’re in a good location. Obviously, we’re keeping an eye on it. We have to check it four times a day.”

“We were very lucky with our box at the front of the building. We have CCTV cameras which I think will stop someone from thinking they are going to damage our box or paint it or set it on fire,” she said.

“They will be caught.”