Editor, The Times
I am writing in response to last week’s letter related to election integrity and the use of ballot marking devices and ballot scanners.
According to Georgia law, ballots must be verifiable to the voter. U.S. Federal judge, Amy Totenburg ruled in 2020 that ballots marked by machines were not in compliance with the law as the scanner did not read the names or check marks on the ballot but read the QR code imprinted on the ballot which a voter cannot verify.
Also, the use of verifiable ballots is a nonpartisan issue as evidenced by the error that occurred in DeKalb County District 2 Democratic primary this past May 24. What occurred was a candidate, Michelle Long Spears, according to the Dominion machines came in third place but on hand recount she won the primary. The reason she had requested the hand recount was that the machines had recorded that she had not received any votes in her home precinct, something she found very unusual as she knew that she and her husband at least had voted for her. Look it up.
These are not conspiracy theories but facts, those stubborn things.
Therefore election integrity is of utmost importance for if we the people cannot trust our elections our republic will fall.
Earl T. Martin, MD
Waycross
