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Maryland voters are claiming ballot marking devices are changing their ballots, state board issues a statement

It is the voter's responsibility to review and verify the choices before submitting their ballot.

MARYLAND, USA — Editor's Note: The video above is from one of the voters claiming the machines were changing her vote. 

Voters across Maryland have alleged that ballot marking devices are changing their votes. WUSA9 spoke with one voter in Prince George's County who said, if she hadn't double-checked her ballot she wouldn't have noticed the switch. 

Since then, voters from across the state have taken to social media claiming the same has occurred to them. On Monday, the Maryland State Board of Elections released a statement in response to these claims. 

“Ballot marking devices do not flip or switch votes. Unfounded claims of machines flipping votes have resurfaced and circulated in many elections. SBE has not substantiated any claim of vote flipping or changing of votes by a ballot marking device (BMD). Moreover, each BMD machine underwent logic and accuracy testing including a public demonstration prior to their usage for early voting and Election Day voting. No issues were reported during the testing conducted by the local boards of elections." the statement read.

The statement continued, explaining that ballot marking devices do not cast a vote. The machine simply records voter's preferences. It is the voter's responsibility to review and verify the choices before submitting their ballot. 

The voter we spoke with said when she reported the issue to a volunteer at her polling location, they told her another voter reported having the same issue. They reiterated the state's board's statement, that it is the voter's responsibility to check their ballot before they hit submit.

Once reviewed, if you see a mistake on your ballot, you are allowed to request a new ballot before casting your vote.

Voters who were instructed to file a formal complaint must submit the complaint with: 

  1. An affidavit sworn under the penalties of perjury from the voter specifying the voting choice they are claiming was flipped
  2. The BAC from the BMD the voter received shows the final selections recorded on the voter’s ballot.

Failure to provide these documents with an administrative complaint may result in summary denial.

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