Elon Musk Issues Call To Ditch All Electronic Ballot Machines
Elon Musk, the CEO and founder of Tesla, SpaceX, and Starlink, recently took to social media to advocate for major changes in the voting system before the 2024 election.
"We should eliminate electronic voting machines. The risk of being hacked by humans or AI, while small, is still too high," Musk stated in a tweet that resonated widely.
This comment was in response to a post by independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who highlighted a recent issue with electronic voting machines in Puerto Rico.
Meanwhile, Chauncey McLean, president of Future Forward, a prominent superPAC supporting Vice President Kamala Harris, made waves on Monday by suggesting that Harris' polling numbers might be inflated.
According to a report by Reuters, McLean, whose superPAC has raised substantial funds for Harris, spoke at an event in Chicago linked to the Democratic National Convention.
"Our numbers are much less rosy than what you're seeing in the public," McLean revealed, noting that he seldom speaks publicly.
McLean indicated that Harris gained considerable support from young voters of color after Biden's withdrawal, revitalizing Democratic prospects in key Sunbelt states like Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina—states that had been largely overlooked in the final days of Biden's campaign.
"She has multiple paths," with seven states in play, he noted, according to Reuters. He also mentioned that voters are seeking more detailed information about Harris' policy positions, based on internal polling. McLean emphasized that voters are not looking for "white papers" or empty rhetoric but want specific examples of how Harris differs from Biden and how she plans to improve their economic situation.
"We have [the race] tight as a tick," he remarked.
On the other hand, CNN contributor and former Obama administration official Van Jones voiced his concerns on Monday. Despite a month of favorable mainstream media coverage and avoiding a formal press conference, the best Harris has managed is to remain in a virtual tie with former President Donald Trump in key states.
According to the RealClearPolitics average, Trump holds a slim 0.1% lead over Harris in seven swing states, down from his earlier 4.3% lead over President Biden. During "CNN News Central," Jones suggested that Harris should be leading Trump more convincingly, given the positive media coverage and her opponent's perceived blunders. Jones also noted that Harris might gain momentum following the Democratic National Convention (DNC).
"We don't wanna be tied. I don't like being tied with Donald Trump because we've had now 20 plus days of positive press. He’s been falling down the stairs, slipping on banana peels, and poking himself in the eyeball. We should not be tied. We want to pull ahead," Jones said. "That's our opportunity this week."
Former Trump advisor David Urban agreed, highlighting that despite Harris' "flawless" campaign, the race remains tight.
"That's scary," Jones responded. "That's scary. We gotta go."
"They're doing the best they can, and it’s tied. That’s really important," Urban asserted.
A recent Media Research Center study revealed that Harris and her running mate received "82% positive press" during a specific period, while Trump and his running mate faced "90% negative coverage" on major evening news broadcasts from July 21 to August 17.
However, Harris' so-called "honeymoon" period seems to be concluding, as indicated by recent polls, including one from the key swing state of Pennsylvania.
An Emerson College survey released late last week shows Trump leading Harris 51% to 49% in the state after distributing the preferences of undecided voters.
This marks a tightening of the race compared to last month's results, where Trump led Harris 51% to 45% among very likely voters. Recent polling had consistently shown Harris in the lead, but Emerson's latest data deviates from that trend.
Electorally, Trump holds an edge over Harris on critical issues such as the economy and immigration, where his policies have resonated with specific voter groups. However, Harris has shown progress compared to Joe Biden's earlier performance in these areas.