A Free And Fair Election Would Have Zero ‘Glitches’

Large counties have “glitches” on Election Day. Why do counties like Harris County, Texas, and Maricopa County, Arizona, continue to experience electoral irregularities? Are large counties just overwhelmed by Election Day? As the nation inches closer to that day, preventing these “glitches” becomes more crucial.

Even a relatively small error, such as incorrectly tabulating 1 percent of the vote, can change the outcome of the election. For example, Joe Biden won Arizona by about 0.6 percent of the vote, half of which came from Maricopa County, which he won by only about 0.3 percent of the vote.

Yet we are continually reassured that any potential irregularities are small and that the majority of ballots are accurately counted. Well, in close elections, being 99 percent accurate versus 100 percent accurate is the difference between correctly certifying the winner and falsified results.

For example, in 2022, in Harris County more than 1,000 ineligible ballots were cast and counted. After a lawsuit, a judge ultimately ordered a redo election. Additionally, voters experienced long lines, ballot paper shortages, and scanner failures.

Meanwhile, in Maricopa County, the story has been much the same: machine failures, long lines, and increasing doubts about the competency of the county’s electoral process. With more than 4 million residents, it is largely determinative of the state’s final vote count.

Voters experienced ballot printing errors, misplaced ballots, and equipment malfunctions that delayed vote counting. One might think that after years of glitches, these two counties would have ironed out these errors to ensure a smooth process. But no. Even though the margin for error is razor thin.

These electoral blunders undermine confidence in the entire electoral process. The fact that large counties can’t get it right raises questions about the integrity of the elections nationwide.

Media Downplays the Problem

The media continues to downplay election irregularities. Don Lemon, Jake Tapper, and the rest of the Democrat Media Complex tell us that these glitches are minor and don’t affect the overall outcome. It’s as if they’ve taken a page out of a magician’s handbook: “Nothing to see here, folks, move along.” But voters deserve transparency and accountability, not smoke and mirrors. Sorry, CNN.

The solution is clear: adopt reliable processes, maintain accurate voter rolls, and ensure transparency in the election process. Voters need to trust that their votes are being counted accurately and that the outcome isn’t just a reflection of the will and whims of a glitchy machine. Counties must prioritize election integrity and stop treating elections like a trial-and-error experiment. The American people deserve better, and it’s time for election officials to step up and deliver a seamless voting experience.

Let’s hope that come next Election Day, the only glitches are in video games and not in voting systems. Because in the American political process, every eligible ballot should be counted, and every election should ultimately certify the rightful winner.

Josh Findlay is the director of the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s national Election Protection Project. Ben Crockett is a research associate at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.