Second audit rectifies errors after hand-counting in McPherson County primary
Mix up in McPherson County creates spark in ballot hand counting discussion
Hand-counting all of the June 4 primary ballots in McPherson County proved the process is a waste of time and money.
That was the take of McPherson County State’s Attorney Austin Hoffman after a secondary audit of ballots on Tuesday.
The review “blatantly showed hand-counting of ballots is far more inaccurate than the tabulators are,” Hoffman said.
McPherson County commissioners agreed to hand-count all of the primary ballots after they were processed by vote tabulators. That decision was made during an April 2 county meeting after they unanimously denied a request from local residents to set a vote on whether hand-counting should be mandatory.
About 30 local residents who wanted the use of ExpressVote tabulators to be eliminated attended that meeting. The machines are required by federal law as part of the Help America Vote Act to assist voters who need help filling out their ballots.
MORE: McPherson County Commission rejects petition seeking hand-counting of ballots
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