D.A. Mulroy Voters favor hand-delivered paper ballots ahead of midterm elections

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – Voters from Shelby County and surrounding areas came together Sunday to cast hand-marked paper ballots ahead of the midterm elections.

When early voting begins Oct. 19, Shelby County voters will use the county’s newest voting machines as they head to the polls.

But over the weekend, a bipartisan group was seen urging people to use paper ballots on machines to create more integrity in the election.

“You people have the power, it is in your hands. You are stronger than a machine, gather your will and do what you have to do,” said Jimmy Franklin with the Freedom Campaign.

It’s a message voters on both sides of the isle say they can agree on.

“We’re talking about conservatives and liberals, these are all good Americans who believe in stronger Republican values ​​and stronger Democratic values ​​for all of us,” said state Rep. Dwayne Thompson of District 96.

Shelly Cheng with the Women’s Conservatives of Collierville says because this election will be the first time voters can choose to cast a paper ballot, they are urging people to take advantage of that option.

“We’re asking people like you to do this. We ask you to use hand-posted paper ballots because we want to show the election commission that we are interested in having more conversations about this… and not just going with electronic devices,” Cheng said.

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy supports paper ballots, saying the manual paper ballot system has no signs of hacking or error.

“Not only is it more reliable, but it depends more on the public’s confidence in the integrity of the election, which is its own value,” Mulroy said.

Mulroy says paper ballots have been sorely tested in Shelby County, even during his own election in August.

“They haven’t released the footage of the account on the continents, in a lot from the sections. They brought it to the center table, which had never been done before in the history of Shelby County, and it gave the crowd a boost of confidence,” Mulroy said. “What we can do to restore public confidence is to use hand-tagged paper ballots as much as possible.”

His message to the public is to get out and vote and use paper ballots when making your choice.

“To the Electoral Commission, please ensure that every voter is given a clear choice to have a hand-held paper ballot. Don’t direct them towards cars because it’s easy and you’re used to it. Make sure every voter is notified that they can choose a hand-held paper ballot,” Mulroy said.

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