Macon-Bibb County’s voting machines were given a clean bill of health after a spot check of their accuracy by the Georgia secretary of state’s office.
The test was just one of an expected 15 to be performed in Georgia boards of elections in coming weeks.
The office is testing the Dominion ballot marking devices, where you actually cast your vote, making sure the QR symbol encoding a vote is read the same way by both a county level scanner and a scanner loaded up with ballot data by the secretary of state’s office. This ensures no election worker can change a vote.
Last year, this test was performed in all 159 counties. All passed. So far this year Cobb, Chatham and Bibb counties have been tested again, all passing.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger was on hand for the Bibb County test. He said the tests should also reassure voters of the integrity of election workers.
“They're not looking left, not looking right," Raffensperger said of election workers. "I know that some may vote on this side of the aisle, some people on that side, but when they step through that door, their job is to do their jobs, to follow the law, follow the Constitution.”
At least 12 more Georgia counties will have surprise tests of their voting machines in coming weeks. Raffensperger said the aim is to quell any remaining doubts before what could be an epoch-defining election.
“We expect a large turnout; we understand things are still very polarized,” Raffensperger said. “We're showing people that these machines are going to record the votes accurately.”
Democratic state Rep. Miriam Paris said even though she had no doubt elections have been fair in the past, she was still glad Raffensperger put Bibb County’s system, and others, to the test.
“I think it's just important for him to make sure that the people have confidence in the process, because this is America and we do value our vote, our right to vote,” Paris said.
And what to say, if anything, to the remaining non-believers?
“Well, I really don't know how much more we can do,” Paris said.
Republican state Rep. Dale Washburn said he still hears from doubters in his district from time to time, though the complainers are dwindling.
“A few people still have concerns about the Dominion voting machines,” Washburn said.
Washburn does not share their doubts.
“I do believe we have very secure elections in Georgia,” he said.
Pat Phillips was already happy she’d been cleared to help seniors in her neighborhood with their absentee ballots when she spotted Raffensperger leaving the ballot test. For her, it was a celebrity sighting.
“I’m just impressed that he would come here,” Phillips said of Raffensperger, last elected in 2022. “I feel like he's making sure it's running smooth. Otherwise he will have the answer to us.”
Meaning, the voters.
And then Phillips made sure she got a picture with the secretary of state before he got in the car to head back to Atlanta.
