Fact check: Did any states report voting machine issues during the 2024 election?

1. Summary of the results

Yes, several states did report voting machine issues during the 2024 election, though the nature and scope of these issues varied significantly:

Confirmed Technical Issues:

• Wisconsin experienced the most significant documented problem, where over 30,000 absentee ballots required retabulation due to tabulator machines not being properly locked overnight ^[1]
• Kentucky reported a single incident where a voting machine registered a vote for Vice President Kamala Harris when the voter intended to select former President Donald Trump, though officials determined this was an isolated incident caused by user error ^[2]

Unsubstantiated Claims:

• Rockland County, New York was subject to a lawsuit claiming discrepancies, with unconfirmed reports of voting machines being altered before the election ^[3]
• Texas faced claims that voting machines were changing voter selections, but Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick publicly debunked these claims, stating officials could not confirm a single instance of this happening ^[4]

Post-Election Verification:

• A comprehensive audit in Wisconsin found zero voting machine errors, with only human errors detected, resulting in an extremely low error rate of 0.0000009% ^[5]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important context about the distinction between actual technical malfunctions and conspiracy theories:

Security Infrastructure Context:

Modern voting machines operate with extensive security measures including physical security protocols, certification processes, and air-gapped networks that make them extremely difficult to hack ^[6]. These machines are not connected to the internet during voting processes and are stored in secure locations with limited access ^[6].

Misinformation Campaign Context:

Election officials fought what was described as a "tsunami of voting conspiracy theories" throughout 2024, including claims of voting machines reversing votes or being hacked ^[7]. However, investigations consistently found no widespread fraud or manipulation of voting machines ^[7]. Election denialism emerged from multiple political perspectives after the election results ^[8].

Scale and Impact Perspective:

While isolated incidents occurred, the overall integrity of voting machine operations remained intact. The Wisconsin audit's finding of a 0.0000009% error rate demonstrates the exceptional accuracy of the systems when properly operated ^[5].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself is neutral and factual in nature. However, it could be interpreted within the context of broader election integrity narratives that various political actors might exploit:

Political Beneficiaries:

• Politicians and organizations promoting election fraud narratives would benefit from emphasizing isolated incidents while ignoring the broader context of system security and accuracy
• Conversely, election officials and technology companies have institutional interests in downplaying any technical issues to maintain public confidence

Missing Nuance:

The question doesn't distinguish between legitimate technical malfunctions (like the Wisconsin tabulator issue) and unsubstantiated conspiracy theories (like the debunked Texas claims). This distinction is crucial for understanding the actual scope and impact of voting machine issues versus manufactured controversies designed to undermine election confidence ^{[7] [8]}.