Full Breakdown
Tennessee Voting-Machine Complaints Prompt Official Reassurances and Expert Analysis
By Drooid · · How we work
Alleged Machine Malfunction at Hermitage Library
Stella Parton posted on Facebook that a touchscreen voting machine at the Hermitage Library in Nashville defaulted to Republican gubernatorial candidate Marsha Blackburn, forcing her to correct the selection three times before the ballot printed. “In Tennessee last week at the Hermitage Library where I voted, I had to go back three times and correct my vote because it kept defaulting to Marsha Blackburn,” — Stella Parton
On-the-Ground Reports
Other voters reported similar experiences. Jackie Herrud, who voted at the Longview Recreation Center in Spring Hill, said the machine repeatedly changed her choice for Democrat Jerri Green back to Blackburn, requiring multiple attempts before the correct candidate appeared on the paper record. “It just really kind of irritated me, and then I was very nervous about making sure that my vote was going to be counted right.” — Jackie Herrud
Official Statements & Responses
Tennessee Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins emphasized that the state’s voting systems incorporate several verification steps: an initial selection screen, a review screen, and a paper record that voters can inspect before casting the ballot. “Tennessee's voting systems are designed with multiple safeguards to help ensure that ballots are recorded consistent with voter intent,” — Mark Goins. He urged voters to use these safeguards and to notify poll workers immediately if a problem occurs.
The Secretary of State’s office noted that, out of roughly 400,000 voters who have cast ballots in the current election cycle, only one formal complaint matching the described issue has been received.
Data & Statistics
- Approximately 400,000 ballots have been cast in the November 2026 election period.
- State officials report a single complaint of a machine “flipping” a vote.
- A recent poll shows Marsha Blackburn leading Democratic challenger Jerri Green by 12 points.
Criticism & Opposition
University-affiliated election experts warned that older touchscreen machines can suffer calibration problems, causing touches to register in unintended locations. They described the phenomenon as a “misclick” issue rather than evidence of intentional vote alteration and noted that rumors of coordinated rigging lack supporting evidence.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
State officials assert that only one complaint has been logged, while multiple media outlets and social-media users recount several similar incidents across different precincts. The discrepancy between the official complaint count and anecdotal reports remains unresolved, and no independent audit of the machines has been reported.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Tennessee’s voting systems are designed with multiple safeguards to help ensure that ballots are recorded consistent with voter intent.” — Mark Goins
- “In Tennessee last week at the Hermitage Library where I voted, I had to go back three times and correct my vote because it kept defaulting to Marsha Blackburn.” — Stella Parton
- “It just really kind of irritated me, and then I was very nervous about making sure that my vote was going to be counted right.” — Jackie Herrud
What’s Next
State election officials continue to advise voters to verify their selections on the review screen and paper record before final submission. No further official investigations or audits have been announced as of the latest reports.