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Rumor: Hand counting is best
Reality
Accuracy:
• According to the Brennan Center for Justice there is a 25% error rate in hand counting.
• An experiment from Rice University using only 120 ballots, people counting by hand got it right only 58 % of the time.
• Hand-counts are an important tool in post-election audits, where officials count small samples to verify machine-tallied results. Studies consistently show that hand-counting ballots produces more errors than machine tabulation.
• The number of voter signatures should match the number of ballots tabulated. Look for the reconciliation that is attached to the results. Efficiency:
• Delays in results.
• In the 2024 Republican Primary in Gillespie County, hand counting from start to finish, the process took almost 24 consecutive hours before results were released.
• Once you start counting you cannot leave ... no matter how long it takes.
• Yes, it used to be done this way, but less turnout and less voter registration was involved by historical documentation. Cost:
• In Gillespie County, public records show Republicans employed 350 people to hand count, who collectively reported working more than 2,300 hours the day of the election at a rate of $12 per hour. That means more than $27,000 in wages. Thats JUST hand counting results and it was a relatively small election (8,000 ballots).
• Time =money=tax dollars Accountability: The entire state of Georgia was supposed to hand count the votes cast this election due to reports of lack of accountability in the 2020 election.
• Overturned by the judicial system.
• The hand count was a verification process to confirm the machine tabulations.
Texas performs a hand count after the election called a “partial manual count.”
• This process takes place three days after the election.
• Criteria is provided by the state of Texas and is a range of races and precincts.
• A team of local volunteers made up of individuals appointed by party chairs count the ballots cast at the Election Center to verify tabulations of the counters.
• This practice is part of the official canvas package that is presented to Commissioners’ Court.
