As we head into 2024 and a presidential election, at least one Florida lawmaker wants to take technology out of the ballot counting process. State Representative Berny Jacques (R-Seminole) sponsored the bill that would allow hand-counting of ballots at election precincts. The proposal would also prevent the Department of State from using voting machines that use hardware or software designed, owned, or licensed by foreign corporations. Under current law, counties must use electronic machines to tabulate votes. “We want people to get out, vote and have trust that when they cast that ballot, it will be counted according to their wishes,” Jacques said in an interview with the News Service of Florida. Rep. Jacques’ proposal is in line with similar pushes in other states in the wake of the 2020 election, and unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud related to voting machines. “There are a lot of individuals who believe, in their heart of hearts, and have run different models, that show hand-counting may be a more accurate way of tabulating votes when it’s done at the precinct level and it’s in a controlled setting,” Jacques added. MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/hand-counting-ballots-florida/67-79f5a731-eb0c-4f42-8219-97e7810a3414 ►Subscribe: https://on.wtsp.com/youtube ►Website: https://www.wtsp.com/ ►Facebook: https://facebook.com/10TampaBay ►Twitter: https://twitter.com/10TampaBay