Fact check: Were any voting machine manufacturers involved in the changes before the 2024 elections?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses provided do not offer conclusive evidence that voting machine manufacturers were directly involved in changes before the 2024 elections ^[1]. However, some sources suggest that updates to voting machine software and firmware were approved by federally accredited testing labs without requiring additional testing, which could be considered a change ^[2]. Security measures for voting machines, including certification processes and physical security, are in place to protect the integrity of elections ^[3]. Other analyses do not provide any information about voting machine manufacturers being involved in changes before the 2024 elections ^{[4] [5] [3]}. Some sources discuss the potential risks to election security and the efforts of voting technology companies to adapt to the changing landscape, but do not mention any changes made by manufacturers before the 2024 elections ^{[6] [7] [8]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

• Lack of direct evidence: Most analyses do not provide direct evidence of voting machine manufacturers' involvement in changes before the 2024 elections ^{[1] [4] [5] [3] [6] [7] [8]}.
• Alternative explanations: Some sources suggest that updates to voting machine software and firmware may have been made without requiring additional testing, but do not provide further context ^[2].
• Broader context: The analyses do not provide a comprehensive overview of the election security landscape, including the role of voting machine manufacturers, testing labs, and election officials ^{[3] [6]}.
• Different perspectives: The sources represent various viewpoints, including those of election officials, voting technology companies, and advocacy groups, which may have different interests and biases ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]}.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be misleading as it implies that voting machine manufacturers were involved in changes before the 2024 elections, which is not supported by the majority of the analyses ^{[1] [4] [5] [3] [6] [7] [8]}. Some sources may benefit from this framing, such as those seeking to undermine election integrity or promote a particular narrative about voting machine manufacturers ^[6]. Others may be harmed by this framing, including voting technology companies and election officials who are working to ensure the integrity of elections ^{[3] [8]}. A more nuanced understanding of the election security landscape and the role of voting machine manufacturers is necessary to accurately assess the situation ^[2].