In terms of voter protection, it is important NOT to freak out or to freak out other voters because doing so can discourage voter turnout. Having said that, all voters should make a habit of reviewing their ballots before casting them. Those of us in Texas (and other states) who vote using Hart eSlate machines (pictured above) need to be especially careful to review our ballots before pressing the red CAST BALLOT button, particularly if we select Straight Party.
As the Texas Tribune explains,
The problem is happening with Hart eSlate voting machines, which are used in 82 of Texas’ 254 counties. Around 7.2 million registered voters live in those counties, which account for 46 percent of registered voters in the entire state. And three of the five counties with the most registered voters, Harris, Tarrant and Travis, use them. Hart InterCivic eSlate did not respond to a request for comment.
So what should you do if you’re in one of those counties? Easy. Double-check all your votes before submitting your ballot.
In Texas, our 2018 Election ballot is set up so that Straight Party is listed at the top, then the U.S. Senate race, and so on down the ballot. In the Texas counties that use Hart eSlate voting machines, some voters have reported that after they select Straight Party, they later notice that their U.S. Senate vote is listed incorrectly: those who chose to vote straight Democratic Party are seeing Republican Ted Cruz rather than our rockstar Beto O’Rourke selected, and those who chose straight Republican Party are seeing no selection for the U.S. Senate race.
Thus far, a few voters have complained in the following counties: Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, McLennan, Tarrant, and Travis. From what I can gather, this problem is the result of a machine design flaw (more on that below), but the machines are definitely NOT flipping all votes on straight Democratic tickets to Cruz.
All voters should always doublecheck ballots before casting them, regardless of the voting mechanism used. If you’re using a Hart eSlate machine and notice an incorrect selection, press the PREV (Previous) button to return to that race and select the correct candidate, then review all of your selections again before pressing the red CAST BALLOT button. And don’t rush while using those machines — it’s best to allow each page to fully load before pressing any buttons.
Houston’s local ABC station has two stories (including videos) covering the problems encountered by some Harris County voters using the Hart eSlate machines: Texas voting machines changing some straight-party selections and Election officials blame problems with electronic voting machines on "operator error."
Yes, it is outrageous that some Texans are stuck voting on Hart eSlate machines, which have a long history of problems in addition to being the least user-friendly option:
In a 2017 paper, two researchers at Rice University examined the usability of Hart’s eSlate devices, which have been touted for their ease of use by the manufacturer and counties that have adopted them. The research cites a 2008 study of 1500 voters that saw the Hart eSlate rank the lowest for ease of use out of six commonly used electronic voting systems.
“There is evidence, both anecdotal and experimental, suggesting that the eSlate is not particularly usable,” the paper’s authors wrote. “Counties are already spending a great deal of money on the eSlate and using the systems in elections despite potential usability issues that could lead to longer voter times… and mistakes made by voters while making selections on ballots.”
Voters who live in Harris County should blame County Clerk Stan Stanart for the continued use of these inferior machines and vote for his opponent Diane Trautman, who has been endorsed by the Houston Chronicle.
Here’s the Advisory posted by the Texas Secretary of State’s office (my emphasis):
Election Advisory No. 2018-35
To: |
County Clerks/Elections Administrators |
From: |
Keith Ingram, Director of Elections |
Element removed
|
Date: |
October 23, 2018 |
RE:
|
Voting on Hart eSlate Machines
|
We have heard from a number of people voting on Hart eSlate machines that when they voted straight ticket, it appeared to them that the machine had changed one or more of their selections to a candidate from a different party. This can be caused by the voter taking keyboard actions before a page has fully appeared on the eSlate, thereby de-selecting the pre-filled selection of that party’s candidate.
Specifically, the Hart eSlate system uses a keyboard with an “Enter” button and a selection wheel button. The “Enter” button on a Hart eSlate selects a voter’s choice. The selection wheel button on a Hart eSlate allows the voter to move up and down the ballot. It is important when voting on a Hart eSlate machine for the voter to use one button or the other and not both simultaneously, and for the voter to not hit the “Enter” button or use the selection wheel button until a page is fully rendered. A voter should note the response to the voter’s action on the keyboard prior to taking another keyboard action. It is also important for the voter to verify their selections are correct before casting their ballot. Step-by-step instructions for the use of a Hart e-Slate machine are available on VoteTexas.gov.
As a reminder, voters should always carefully check their review screen before casting their ballots. If a voter has any problems, they should notify a poll worker immediately so the issues can be addressed and reported.
Attached is a notice (PDF) for posting at polling locations reminding voters to review their summary screen before casting their ballot.
www.sos.state.tx.us/…
Here’s the notice (it’s in 4 languages) that should be posted at polling locations:
VOTERS
Make sure to confirm
that your summary
page accurately
reflects your choices
BEFORE casting your
ballot!
THANK YOU!
ELECTIONS OFFICE
Resources for Texas Voters
Texas voter hotline (for questions or problems voting): 844-TX-VOTES or 844-898-6837
Texas Democratic Party voter resources, including “Find where to vote”: votes.txdemocrats.org/...
VoteTexas.gov is the official Texas Secretary of State site. If you see information posted by allied groups, it would probably be wise to doublecheck with VoteTexas.gov or txdemocrats.org before forwarding.
Important dates:
Monday, October 22 – Friday, November 2: Early Voting in Texas (more info at VoteTexas.gov)
Tuesday, November 6 between 7:00am — 7:00pm: Election Day voting