General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMajority of Vote Counting Machines in Detroit Broke On Election Day
Was it merely old equipment which incompetent officials had failed to bother getting serviced, or was there something intentionally sinister going on? Thats the question now coming out of Michigan, where just as the statewide recount is getting underway, officials are finally admitting that the majority of vote counting machines in Detroit broke on election day. The stunning admission, which is getting virtually no national news coverage despite appearing in a major Detroit newspaper, casts doubt on the legitimacy of Donald Trumps supposed narrow win in the state.
Even now, elections director Daniel Baxter appears to only be making the admission as part of a convoluted argument for why the ballots in those Detroit precincts cant be recounted. Hes acknowledging that eighty-seven optical scanners in Detroit simply broke on the same day. But he and other Michigan officials are now making the argument that, because the broken machines resulted in different vote totals on the machines than on the precinct log books, state law means those ballots cant be recounted.
snip
Meanwhile, the mere fact that fifty-nine percent of the vote counting machines in Michigans biggest city all broke on the same day is standing out as a stunning development. It calls into question why officials failed to publicly disclose this information until they needed it for their convoluted argument against recounting the majority of Detroits votes. With Detroit being 82% African-American and thus demographically likely to have heavily favored Hillary Clinton, it directly calls into question whether Donald Trump won Michigan.
http://www.palmerreport.com/news/michigan-officials-admit-majority-detroit-vote-counting-machines-broke-election-day/414/
Stuart G
(38,427 posts)global1
(25,247 posts)We knew this election was coming up 4 years ago. It's not like it just sneaked up on us and there wasn't time to make sure that all the equipment (i.e., voting machines, optical scanners, etc) were in good working order and functioning.
All over the country - there should be a shake down of all the equipment needed to be used on election day. It should be on-going for the preceding year up to election day itself.
Why is it we always find out about these equipment failures on election day or after the election?
Botany
(70,504 posts)Trump victory margin in Michigan: 13,107
etherealtruth
(22,165 posts)That number of votes could easily have been "lost" in the City of Detroit.
The State of Michigan is the only state where (I believe) the outcome of the election could have (with a high potential for "would" have) changed the outcome.
Scruffy1
(3,256 posts)The poorer neighborhoods get less machines and the ones they get are obsolete. The Republicans know that the poor are very busy trying to survive and have the least amount of spare time. Day care, maybe working 2 or 3 jobs to make ends meet, working night shifts. Certainly no maid service and staff to take care of things. Cleveland was a prime example in 2000. The model worked so they implemented it everywhere.Every year in my area we offer free rides and try to provide enough services so people can vote. This includes free rides for those who need it.
Docreed2003
(16,858 posts)He was awfully sure that Michigan would swing to Trump!
SickOfTheOnePct
(7,290 posts)Palmer takes a legitimate news story and misstates what it says. Clickbait.
FarCenter
(19,429 posts)In this state, all voting machines are bought and maintained by the county clerks.
Although the Michigan Secretary of State sets requirements and certifies voting machines for use in the State, there are multiple suppliers of different machines and the choice of which to get and use is up to the responsible local election officials.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)ananda
(28,860 posts)Sabotaged and/or deliberately not maintained
or replaced when they should have been.
demmiblue
(36,851 posts)LovingA2andMI
(7,006 posts)There has been TOO MANY ON-THE-GROUND sites reporting actuate information on the Detroit Recount Situation. Maybe instead of posting Click-Bait sites like the "Palmer Report" folks should search out REAL NEWS, REPORTING, and COMMENTARY. #FYI...
More than half of Detroits votes may be disqualified from Michigans recount - Motorcity Muckraker
Conflicting orders throw Michigans presidential recount into limbo - Motorcity Muckraker
Our view: Janice Winfrey should resign immediately as Detroit clerk - Motorcity Muckraker
Thousands of Detroit's Ballots Might Remain Uncounted In Stein's Recount - Independent Underground News & Talk
Michigan's GOP Efforts To Stop Stein's Recount Exposes State Voter Suppression - Independent Underground News & Talk
Podcast: Do Recounts Protect The Integrity of The Vote w/ Guest Detroit Resident Tom Barrow -12/7 @ 9pm ET- Independent Underground Radio LIVE
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)shraby
(21,946 posts)Maybe the investigation will lead to that. When the onion starts getting peeled, it's hard telling which layers are going to be rotten.
littlemissmartypants
(22,656 posts)Response to erpowers (Original post)
Hekate This message was self-deleted by its author.
Hekate
(90,683 posts)Response to erpowers (Original post)
MineralMan This message was self-deleted by its author.
malthaussen
(17,195 posts)It's about a week old: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2016/12/05/recount-unrecountable/95007392/
As I see Hekate posted just upthread.
It's a good idea to hunt down the sources of such stories.
-- Mal
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)Which is ironic, considering that the Free Press is known as the "Freep".
spike jones
(1,678 posts)Sixteen years ago on this date the Supreme Court decided that votes don't count and appointed GW Bush as pResident. We have come a long way from that kind of nonsense.
No, wait a minute....
bdamomma
(63,849 posts)needs an overhauling. Horrible no wonder we are at where we are now.
Our voting system is horrible and our voices were not heard. Or should we just with the Popular vote??? then we would of had a clear winner. Instead of guy saying he won in a landslide what a LIAR.