Elon Musk Said We Should Get Rid of Electronic Voting Machines?

A rumor that technology mogul Elon Musk called for banning all electronic voting machines circulated widely online in August 2024. For example, SpaceXMania posted an article in August 2024, with the headline, “Breaking: Elon Musk Says “We Should Get Rid Of All Electronic Voting Machines.” 

The article stated:  

Elon Musk, the tech mogul known for his ambitious ventures and futuristic innovations, has recently stunned the world by advocating for a return to paper ballots, calling for a complete ban on electronic voting machines. The man who is pushing the boundaries of technology with self-driving cars, brain-computer interfaces, and space colonization, now believes that when it comes to voting, simplicity is key.

In a lively discussion on Twitter Spaces, Musk shared his thoughts on the state of voting technology. “Electronic voting machines are too complicated and vulnerable,” Musk stated. “We need to go back to the basics. Paper ballots are reliable, straightforward, and most importantly, they leave a clear, verifiable trail.”

Musk’s stance on voting technology comes as a surprise to many, given his strong advocacy for technological advancement in almost every other area of life. From electric vehicles to space travel, Musk has championed the use of cutting-edge technology to solve modern problems. However, it seems that when it comes to the democratic process, he prefers a more traditional approach.

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Despite the mixed reactions, Musk seems undeterred. In fact, he’s already thinking about ways to improve the paper ballot system. “Imagine using Tesla’s AI to count paper ballots,” Musk suggested. “Or sending ballots to remote areas with SpaceX drones. We can combine the reliability of paper with the efficiency of modern technology.”
 

Musk even floated the idea of a new startup focused on revolutionizing paper ballots. “Who says paper can’t be high-tech?” he quipped. “We could develop a smart ballot that’s secure, verifiable, and eco-friendly. Maybe even add some solar panels to power the voting booths.”

SpaceX Fanclub, a Facebook page affiliated with SpaceXMania, shared the same article, and another version of the story appeared on esspots.com, which describes itself as a subsidiary outlet of SpaceXMania.

(Facebook user “SpaceX Fanclub”)

Variations of the rumor spread on Facebook, as well, with people voicing their agreement with the claim. One post stated:  “Elon Musk says it’s time we get rid of electronic voting machines. I couldn’t agree more!” Another post from a conservative Facebook page stated, “Elon Musk says we should get rid of ALL electronic voting machines!”

While the rumor originated from a source that is satirical in nature, Musk has indeed called for the elimination of electronic voting machines on X. In June 2024, Musk stated on X, “We should eliminate electronic voting machines. The risk of being hacked by humans or AI, while small, is still too high.” While we rate the above claim as “Correct Attribution,” we should note that Musk did not make all the statements in the above satirical article. 

Musk was responding to a post on X by then-presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who called for paper ballots after Puerto Rico’s primary elections in June 2024 came under scrutiny for discrepancies discovered from the electronic voting machines.

SpaceXMania labeled the article in question as “Satire” and describes its website thus:

Now, let’s talk about our digital lair – it’s not just a website; it’s a happening spot on social media where we hang out, shoot the breeze with you, spill the tea on breaking news, and flaunt our latest satirical masterpieces. Quick heads up, though – every single article on our site is about as real as a unicorn sipping on a rainbow smoothie. They’re pure fantasy, folks, not a snapshot of reality.

We take pride in being the cool cats who offer you a front-row seat to our Satire/Fantasy News extravaganza. Our satirical pieces? They’re like a breath of fresh air, a break from the ordinary, giving you a giggle or two about the stuff our Tater friends would totally vibe with.

Musk was part of a growing number of conservative-leaning voices, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, calling for paper ballots. A number of these voices have linked this demand to numerous false claims of voter fraud. However, election-security experts pushed back saying there was no evidence that any irregularities were enough to change the results of an election. 

In Puerto Rico, for example, which used Dominion machines, the irregularities were caught and a full vote tally was conducted through auditing paper receipts from voting machines. 

According to election experts from the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonprofit public policy institute at New York University, most votes already have a paper trail:

Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are calling for the use of paper ballots in the 2024 election. They’re right on the policy: paper ballots are one of the most important security measures states can adopt. When selections are recorded on paper, voters can easily verify that their ballot accurately reflects their choices before casting their vote. But they’re misleading on the facts: states are already doing this. Nearly all votes cast in the 2024 election will be recorded on paper.

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As states continue to upgrade voting equipment and phase out paperless systems, nearly all voters now live in jurisdictions with voting systems that have a paper record of every vote. Nationwide, we expect around 98 percent of all votes to be cast on paper in the 2024 general election (based on data from Verified Voting and the Election Assistance Commission’s Election Administration and Voting Survey). This represents an increase from 93 percent of votes four years ago. Counties in all but two states have moved to voting systems with a paper trail; the remaining counties in Louisiana and Texas plan to transition soon, but this will likely not be completed by the fall.  

Importantly, all the swing states that are most likely to determine the winner of the 2024 presidential election — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — use voting systems with paper records. In some states, voters fill out paper ballots by hand. In others, after the voter makes selections on a touch screen, the machine prints a paper ballot or record for the voter to review before casting their vote.

Snopes has addressed similar stories about voting fraud in previous election cycles, including a false 2020 claim that Dominion machines caused millions of votes for Trump to be deleted.

For background, here is why we alert readers to rumors created by sources that call their output humorous or satirical.