Fred Deutsch offers thoughts; supports our current system of electronic ballot counting

From Facebook, State Rep. Fred Deutsch who was not successful in moving to the State Senate this last month offers his thoughts on the recount process, as well as his support for our current system of electronic ballot counting:

POST-ELECTION THOUGHTS: Because so many friends and supporters asked me to go through the election recount, I opted to oblige. Six different recount committees were established, one in each county in my District.

As far as the process, each ballot was individually reviewed by the committee, along with simultaneous review by me and my opponent. They were then hand-counted, and then fed into the tabulator machine.

The hand-count, the tabulator count, and the Election Day tabulator count all matched in each county except for a few voter errors (e.g. one voter put a check mark in the oval instead of filling it in). As a result, I gained a single vote – – not near enough to impact the results.

There are some people in our state who are concerned with the accuracy of these machines. After going through this pain-staking process looking at each ballot, I have zero concerns about accuracy.

Six different machines with six different auditors were all bulls-eye accurate each time, except for a few human errors.

I’m grateful the process exists to allow candidates to request recounts in close elections, and I’m grateful to the people in each county (18 people total) who gave up time to make sure our election was accurate. The entire process was professional and transparent, and frankly made me proud to be a South Dakotan.

39 thoughts on “Fred Deutsch offers thoughts; supports our current system of electronic ballot counting”

  1. The first an only rational thought of dush I’ve heard and it’s still an extremist form with his “zero“ questions. I mean I agree, but, I – hope – he can make it his new passion instead of discriminating against what others choose to consume and how others choose to live their healthy lives or live their fullest potential. He should quit trying to control who people are and want to be. He’s mean and judgmental.

    1. Wow I’ve met this man multiple times and he may be the NICEST out of all the legislators I’ve met. I’ve never even had the thought of him being mean and judgemental…he takes pride in his Jewish ancestry and is greatful to have transitioned into Christianity. He may be more of a extremist but he’s all inclusive and doesn’t judge…he listens.

    2. Good grief. Have you ever met Fred? He is not mean. He listens. He is educated on issues. He’s passionate.

    3. Leah Anderson supports electronic counting also after her debacle during the primary.

      When her hand count was off she just acted like she didn’t need to reconcile what was wrong. She’s an idiot.

      The county commission needs to hold her to her own flipping standards and get her to reconcile the discrepancies.

      1. Also what the heck is she doing saying the previous election was off 30k votes?

        And is the commission really going to let her not count motor voters votes? Talk about corrupt.

        1. Now she’s saying she isn’t going to hand count the general? The commission should make her do it. She shouldn’t be able to run away from her own opinions just because it’s suddenly too much work for her.

  2. Hmmmm…..I wonder where all these conspiracy theorists are getting their inspiration and their “alternative facts” information about stolen and fraudulent elections all across America? Could it possibly be coming from the Election Denier In Chief and his 24/7 alternative facts media universe?

      1. Trump Campaign = “Stop The Steal” Remember? It was one big grift but many went down that rabbit hole and we are still paying the price nationally and in South Dakota. Trump still claims everything is rigged and stolen.

          1. Trump is not a child rapist, get a life. “Convicted felon” is a paperwork violation of miscategorizing an expense. I’m not the biggest fan of Trump, but you need to be honest.

            1. He lied about expenses repeatedly and attempted to obfuscate the flow of business dollars.

              That’s fraud.
              Plain and simple.

              You need to stop being willfully obtuse.

            2. a jury found sufficient evidence to support the conviction of trump for the conspiracy to interfere with the 2016 presidential election, in the violations of ny law. take your complaint up with them.

  3. One political extremist gone but unfortunately many more were won in the primary which will inflict even more social and economic costs on the state.

  4. It is not the accuracy of the machines in question it is the corruptibility and manipulation of the machines that is the problem.

    1. Corruptibility and manipulation, to what end? If not to alter the accuracy of the machines, for what purpose? If there is no evicence the machines tabulate anything other than the actual vote (i.e.100% accurate), what do you want to fix? Pie-in-the-sky potential problems?

      1. That’s all they’ve ever had: a potential problem they cant prove or even provide a reasonable justification for. Just vague hand waving that demands more government spending.

        1. 2020 election Dusty got 50,000 more votes than and rounds got 20,000 more votes than Trump. That is suspicious.

  5. I find it interesting that these people in SD are concerned about skewing the tabulators when we elect REPUBLICANS 90% of the time! So what is the problem?

    1. That’s exactly right glad it was republican vs republicans otherwise the conspiracy people would be really going at it.

    2. And the rv and snow bird votes that use mail services that were thrown out were likely all wealthy conservative retirees who all vote red. It’s hilarious.

    3. We need to clean up the SD GOP from all the establishment, big money, corporation pleasing members that have been controlling the state. The primaries and referred votes are the battle front.

    1. Anyone can spew out an opinion about people being idiots, but until you, in your not so humble opinion, can name names, your voice here is meaningless.

      Cowards often make outrageous statements about others,

  6. What is interesting is that QAnon Toby Doeden who is not only a conspiracy enthusiast but an election denier supported and endorsed Fred Deutsch as one of his Dumpster Divers.

  7. I’m with Prairie Farmer. We’re winning 90% of the Legislative Districts and have held the Governor’s Office since the early 1970’s. The Federal offices are all held by our candidates, usually by wide margins. What’s the problem?? These election conspiracy people aren’t Republicans. They are Drama Queens.

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