Mark Cook has been traveling around the country in Gillespie County, Texas. Sharing a low-tech message that questions the trustworthiness of electronic voting. Over the past year, he has visited more than 100 counties with his “Hand Count Roadshow.” At a recent event in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, he said, “But we’re told: trust the machines. That is a way to manipulate an election.”
Claims of Election Manipulation
This movement, which has grown since the 2020 elections, claims that voting machines can be hacked or changed. In March, Cook convinced local Republican leaders in Gillespie County to hand-count the votes in their primary elections. This decision led to hundreds of volunteers staying late to count about 8,000 votes by hand. Unfortunately, this process had many mistakes.
The Experience in Gillespie County
Jim Riley, the county’s elections administrator, reported that of 13 precincts, “12 of which turned in final tally sheets that were inaccurate.” Riley, a Republican, believes that the county’s voting system—using paper ballots scanned and checked by state-approved machines—was already good and secure. He said, “No, the hand counting, in my opinion, did nothing to improve elections in the county.”
Challenges of Reassuring Voters
Despite the county’s efforts to be open and reassure voters, some people still have doubts. “It won’t ever be enough,” Riley said, highlighting how hard it is to change people’s minds when they worry about election safety. Mo Saiidi, who used to be the Gillespie County Republican chair, expressed his frustration about the party’s decision to support Cook’s ideas, saying, “Nobody provided a single iota of evidence; it was just this perception that if it’s plugged into the wall, they’re subject to hacking.”
The Controversy Continues
Saiidi resigned because he felt he could not lead an effort to fix a problem that “never existed.” Many studies show that hand counts are often less accurate, more expensive, and take longer than certified voting machines.
Implications of New Rules
This issue has gotten more attention because of a new rule passed by the Republican-majority Georgia State Election Board. This rule requires that ballots be counted by hand in the upcoming November election. In response, Democrats have filed a lawsuit to challenge this rule, showing the growing divide over how elections should be run.
A Solution Without a Problem
Despite the challenges in Gillespie County, Cook’s movement shows no signs of stopping. Even after the problems with hand counting were pointed out, supporters have packed county meetings, demanding changes before the November elections. Riley called the hand-counting experience a “net loss,” expressing frustration that some people see those who disagree as “evil.”
The hand count movement highlights a growing trend: a solution without a problem. As concerns about election safety become a bigger part of political discussions, relying on unfounded fears rather than verified facts raises important questions about the future of voting in the United States.
