Fact Check: Montgomery Co. Voter Machines Did Not Malfunction

Voter machines in Montgomery County are not malfunctioning Tuesday, despite a claim circulating social media Tuesday afternoon.

The claim came from an email from the Montgomery County Republican Committee, which alleged that machines across the county were "being removed."

The Committee said that the malfunction occurred when voters hit the "Straight Republican" button to vote for all Republican candidates, E11. This incorrect message was shared by voters and at least one person running for office, 53rd District state House candidate Andy Szekely.

>>Click here to follow along with Election Day developments, including voter turnout, polling place issues, and other news as it comes in.

"We have heard the complaints, but we have not found any machines malfunctioning," John Corcoran, a spokesperson for Montgomery County, told Patch Tuesday night. "We have talked to the judges of elections in the polling places and sent roving election workers around to the locations we have heard named to try and recreate the problems described. All of the machines have worked."

Corcoran added that there may have been confusion from voters who accidentally hit the E11 button twice in rapid succession, which would cause the machine to deselect all the buttons that had just been selected.

>>Dean Vs. David: Polling Places Crowded In 4th District

Patch is partnering with ProPublica's Electionland project to report on problems voters encounter at the polls on Nov. 6 and we want to know if you see any shenanigans. Here's how you can report what you see to Electionland:

• SMS: Send the word VOTE, VOTA (for Spanish) or 投票 (for Chinese) to 81380 (standard text message rates apply).
• WhatsApp: Send the word VOTE, VOTA (for Spanish) or 投票 (for Chinese) to 1-850-909-8683.
• Facebook Messenger: Go to m.me/electionland.
• Submit a tip through this form.

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