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(Thread) Voting Machines
I had a hard time answering this question
because it brought back an unpleasant memory: The time I tried to explain that the voting machines in Georgia were secure.
So before I answer this question, let me tell you a story.
1/ https://twitter.com/purplemonkey75/status/1343059493945569280
I had a hard time answering this question
because it brought back an unpleasant memory: The time I tried to explain that the voting machines in Georgia were secure.So before I answer this question, let me tell you a story.
1/ https://twitter.com/purplemonkey75/status/1343059493945569280
First, my credentials. I monitored polling places and machine vote tabulation in Nevada as a volunteer poll watcher in 2016 and 2018. In 2018-2019, I did a considerable amount of legal work for the voter protection org in Georgia.
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One of my tasks in GA was to revise the legal manual with the new information about the machines and procedures after the court-ordered changes in 2019.
I wrote a thread explaining that the procedures combined with the dominion machines made the voting secure.
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I wrote a thread explaining that the procedures combined with the dominion machines made the voting secure.
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To say I got push back is an understatement.
Here is a sampling of the responses I received
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Here is a sampling of the responses I received
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I got so many panicked questions from people telling me that the Georgia voter machines were poised to flip votes for Trump, that I wasn't sure what to do.
I didn't want to try to tell Twitter the machines were secure again.
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I didn't want to try to tell Twitter the machines were secure again.
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So I came up with two solutions.
First, I put the question first on my "FAQ" page: That way I could send people to the page without inviting such anger from Twitter. https://terikanefield-blog.com/faq/
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First, I put the question first on my "FAQ" page: That way I could send people to the page without inviting such anger from Twitter. https://terikanefield-blog.com/faq/
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I worried about spreading fear about the machines because (in my view) voter suppression is the greater danger, and telling people voting is not secure can suppress the vote.
Trump learned that the hard way. https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/526395-georgia-elections-chief-says-trump-depressed-gop-vote-cost-himself-state
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Trump learned that the hard way. https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/526395-georgia-elections-chief-says-trump-depressed-gop-vote-cost-himself-state
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Second, I came up with an argument that allowed me to hide behind respected authority: Stacey Abrams.
My argument: Why did Stacey worry about voter suppression in Georgia and not the machines? She should know, right?
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My argument: Why did Stacey worry about voter suppression in Georgia and not the machines? She should know, right?
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When it became clear that the machines used in GA are secure, I thought WHEW!
Then I got this question
One problem: Twitter has a short memory. Nobody remembers that 2 months ago, the same was said about Dominion.
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Then I got this question
One problem: Twitter has a short memory. Nobody remembers that 2 months ago, the same was said about Dominion.
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This caused me to do some thinking about fear-mongering and paranoia and conspiracy theories.
It's hard to talk about this because Trump came close to destroying democracy in America. Another term would have done it.
So we have real worries.
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It's hard to talk about this because Trump came close to destroying democracy in America. Another term would have done it.
So we have real worries.
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It's just that people tend to worry about the wrong stuff.
It can be hard to sort out what to worry about. also, obviously conspiracy theories and hope porn exist on both sides of the political spectrum.
So here's my advice for elections and saving democracy.
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It can be hard to sort out what to worry about. also, obviously conspiracy theories and hope porn exist on both sides of the political spectrum.
So here's my advice for elections and saving democracy.
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Volunteer to work in your local elections.
Elections are held and monitored locally (actually, I was also called a liar for saying that). If you don't believe me, volunteer. You'll find out.
If you can, run for local office.
Be the person in charge.
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Elections are held and monitored locally (actually, I was also called a liar for saying that
). If you don't believe me, volunteer. You'll find out.If you can, run for local office.
Be the person in charge.
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Second, follow Stacey Abrams's example: The way to win elections is to register voters and get them to the polls.
Register voters. Do it. For the next two years.
Finally, don't spread fear about the voting process, particularly before an election.
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Register voters. Do it. For the next two years.
Finally, don't spread fear about the voting process, particularly before an election.
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I've only see this kind of thing in my mentions on Twitter. I've never seen it covered by any major news source.
If you (or someone else) has information, turn it over to a reputable journalist.
If I don't see something in a major news source, I don't waste time.
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If you (or someone else) has information, turn it over to a reputable journalist.
If I don't see something in a major news source, I don't waste time.
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I thought that everything we went through the past two months would finally put the "mass voter fraud" stuff to rest.
Here's the thing: The attacks that came my way when I said the GA voting machines were secure came from the left.
15/ https://twitter.com/rationalexpect1/status/1343392779586719744
Here's the thing: The attacks that came my way when I said the GA voting machines were secure came from the left.
15/ https://twitter.com/rationalexpect1/status/1343392779586719744
It's easy to see the fear-mongering when FOX does it. It's easy to see through the conspiracy theories when Lin Wood says them.
Now people pop into my mentions to assure me that McConnell won because of voter fraud. I google and look for major reporting. None.
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Now people pop into my mentions to assure me that McConnell won because of voter fraud. I google and look for major reporting. None.
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Beware when someone says, "This is true. I don't know why the major media isn't covering it." Journalists love a good scoop.
Some of it is hope porn. We want to believe our candidate would have won, but for fraud. It feels better than "the majority wanted someone else."
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Some of it is hope porn. We want to believe our candidate would have won, but for fraud. It feels better than "the majority wanted someone else."
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I understand, actually, where people on the left got the information before the election that Dominion machines were insecure: They read the briefs filed on one side of a lawsuit. But there were briefs filed on the other, as well.
The Court took a middle road.
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The Court took a middle road.
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So that I don't misrepresent, my work in GA was strictly volunteer.
Absolutely nothing wrong with questioning, "How could that have happened?" https://twitter.com/joyceturiskylie/status/1343401335434207233
There's a difference between asking questions and saying, "McConnell won because of fraud."
There's a difference between asking questions and saying, "McConnell won because of fraud."
This smart comment was a response to the "McConnell won because of fraud" Tweet example I included:
https://twitter.com/MartinAinsley/status/1343405684277313536
The GOP has become the party of QAnon and OANN. That leaves us to be the smart party able to distinguish innuendo and suggestion from fact.
https://twitter.com/MartinAinsley/status/1343405684277313536
The GOP has become the party of QAnon and OANN. That leaves us to be the smart party able to distinguish innuendo and suggestion from fact.
