One, two, three... (File photo)
Technology? We don't need no stinkin' technology.
One, two, three ... (File photo)
Republican gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley filed his petition signatures yesterday for his run for the state's top executive office, and topped off the day by advocating "getting rid of these (voting) machines," without suggesting what would replace them in counting millions of ballots. (Five-and-a-half million were cast in November 2020.)
"There are so many questions here that we need to get rid of these machines," Kelley added. "We need to forge a new way. Maybe, there are electronics involved. But there needs to be a process in place for auditing them."
... Kelley said he believes hand counting Michigan's votes is a "great option" for future elections.
Michigan voters cast paper ballots statewide, and an audit would be as easy as requesting a recount. However, none of the candidates espousing "election integrity" as a campaign issue have done so, including Kelley.
In January, at a meet-the-candidates event in Livingston County, Kelley advised Republicans who might be working as election observers or challengers, "If you see something you don't like happening with the machines, unplug it from the wall."
Kelley is the fifth GOP candidate to file his signature petitions, although at least 13 have declared for the seat currently held by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Hand-counting 5.5 million ballots would require a vastly larger workforce, take longer and likely be far less accurate, experts say.
