Atlanta (AP) – President Donald Trump Presidential Order is aiming to transform the execution of U.S. elections, which notably addresses the counting of votes. The directive mandates that voting machines must not utilize any “barcode or quick response code” in their processes.
Such technical specifications could lead to significant ramifications.
Voting machines incorporating codes have been deployed across numerous counties in 19 states, including full-state systems in Georgia, South Carolina, and Delaware.
Concerns surrounding these systems have been voiced by computer scientists, Democrats, and progressive activists. Following the 2020 Presidential Election, claims emerged alleging operational issues, with Trump asserting that his order aimed to “safeguard the integrity of the election.”
Even election officials who assert the reliability of coded voting systems acknowledge a growing trust deficit among voters.
Workers will keep their voting machines at the Fulton County Election Preparation Center in Atlanta on November 4, 2020. (AP Photo/John Busemore)
Democrat Jena Griswold, Colorado’s Secretary of State, determined in 2019 to cease the use of QR-coded votes. Amanda Gonzalez, the campaign clerk for Jefferson County in Colorado, while not in favor of Trump’s orders, views Colorado’s decision as a positive move.
“It can eliminate confusion,” Gonzalez remarked. “Ultimately, I desire a free, fair, and transparent election.”
Targeting False Information
Regardless of how they cast their ballots, millions of voters nationwide will mark their choices on paper ballots using pens. These votes are scanned through tally machines for counting and can be retrieved for recount purposes if necessary.
In other instances, voters in person use touchscreen machines to record their choices, which then provide a paper version of the ballot, including a barcode or QR code. The tabulator scans these codes for vote tallying.
Officials employing such equipment assert they regularly conduct tests to guarantee its security and that paper records align with the results. Yet, coded votes have become targets for conspiracy theories surrounding elections.
“I believe this concern is greatly exaggerated,” stated Lawrence Norden of the Brennan Center for Justice. “I understand the appeal to certain groups who may not grasp the mechanics, yet it has historically been exploited to question specific election outcomes.”
Proponents of conspiracy theories regarding the 2020 election have initiated a prolonged legal battle concerning Georgia’s voting system. A computer scientist from the University of Michigan testified, claiming attackers can manipulate QR codes to alter voter selections and introduce malware to machines.
The testimony from J. Alex Halderman has been utilized to reinforce Trump’s misleading claims regarding the 2020 election. While no evidence suggests that the vulnerabilities he highlighted were exploited, they were indeed compromised.
Georgia Secretary Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, staunchly defends the state’s voting system. A judge overseeing Halderman’s primary testimony declined to impede the utilization of Georgia’s voting equipment, stating the situation raised “substantial concerns regarding the management, maintenance, and security of Georgia’s in-person voting system.”
Workers will keep their voting machines at the Fulton County Election Preparation Center in Atlanta on November 4, 2020. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, file)
Can an Executive Order Ban Coded Voting?
Trump’s executive order regarding elections has faced multiple legal challenges, one being the temporary injunction against provisions that mandated evidence of citizenship for voter registration.
Provisions aimed at banning the use of QR or barcodes depend on a directive from Trump to federal agencies. The U.S. Election Support Committee has set voluntary guidelines for voting systems, yet adherence to these guidelines varies by state.
Some lawsuits argue that Trump lacks the authority to instruct the committee, as it was established by Congress as an independent entity.
The courts will determine the outcome, but currently, the committee’s guidelines specify that ballots utilizing barcodes or QR codes should include a printed list of voter selections.
Trump’s order exempts voting devices used by disabled individuals, but it does not guarantee federal funding to assist states and counties in abandoning QR or barcode systems.
“Long term, it’s advantageous if the vendor phases out encoding, although there’s evidence that they are already working towards that,” said Pamela Smith, president of Verified Voting, an organization focused on election methods that eliminate QR and barcodes.
People will vote at the voting booth at the Georgia primary at Park Tavern, held in Atlanta on June 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
Benton County Dilemma
Kim Dennison, the election coordinator for Benton County, Arkansas, estimates that upgrading the county’s voting system would require approximately $400,000 and take up to a year to complete.
Dennison has been using equipment with coded voting for the past 15 years and reports not having encountered any inaccuracies during post-election assessments.
“I have full confidence that the equipment is functioning as intended and is not corrupting the reports,” she stated. “Once a vote is cast, it cannot be altered.”
In Lucerne County, Pennsylvania, QR code-generating voting machines will be utilized in the upcoming primary. However, officials hope that manufacturer updates will remove this feature before the November election.
County manager Romilda Crocamo noted that there have been no voter complaints regarding the QR codes, but modifications will be considered when Dominion Voting Systems delivers updates.
Los Angeles County, the nation’s most populous, has employed QR code systems for over a decade, having rolled them out in 2020 after successfully fulfilling state certification standards.
Dean Logan, the county’s election chief, asserted that the current system exceeded federal guidelines at the time and complies with many of the latest standards ratified in 2021.
Altering or replacing it is not only costly but also a process that spans several years, he explained, as the county’s voting equipment holds an estimated value of $140 million.
Georgia’s “Train Wreck”?
Perhaps no state faces less controversy than Georgia when it comes to voting systems. The same QR code technology is deployed statewide.
Marilyn Marks, the Coalition for Good Governance’s executive director and a primary plaintiff in the litigation concerning these systems, remarked that although her organization has not taken a definitive stance on Trump’s executive order, the Federal Election Assistance Commission should halt the accreditation of bodies employing barcodes.
According to the Secretary of State, the voting system is compliant with Georgia law. Nevertheless, the Republican-controlled Congress voted to prohibit the use of QR codes, without allocating any funds for implementing the changes—an endeavor projected to cost approximately $66 million.
Republicans have indicated a desire to replace the system when the current contract ends in 2028, yet legislation is anticipated to remain in effect next year. GOP State Rep. Victor Anderson asserted that there is no feasible method to “prevent the impending train wrecks.”
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Associated Press reporter Christina A. Cassidy contributed to this article.
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Kramon is part of the Associated Press/America House News Initiative report. American Report is a non-profit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to cover secretive issues. Follow Kramon on X: @Charlottekramon.
Source: apnews.com