Shasta County in California made a groundbreaking decision to switch from electronic voting machines to paper ballots for their upcoming elections. This is a major victory for voting rights advocates who have long argued that paper ballots are more secure and reliable than electronic ones.

The decision was made after months of debate between the county supervisors and voting rights advocates. Advocates argued that electronic voting machines are vulnerable to hacking and other forms of interference, while paper ballots provide a more secure and reliable way to cast votes. They also pointed out that hand-counting paper ballots is much less expensive than using electronic machines.

The county supervisors ultimately voted 3-2 in favor of switching to paper ballots. The vote came after the county terminated its contract with Dominion Voting Systems, which had been providing the county’s electronic voting machines. The termination of the contract left the county without any replacement for their current system, making it necessary for them to find an alternative solution.

The move has been met with praise from many in the community who believe that this will help ensure fair and accurate elections in Shasta County. It also sends a strong message to other counties across California that they should consider switching from electronic voting machines to paper ballots as well.

Voting rights advocates are hopeful that this decision will lead to increased voter turnout in future elections as well as greater confidence among voters that their votes will be counted accurately and securely. In addition, it could potentially save money for counties by eliminating the need for costly electronic voting machines and providing an easier way for poll workers to count votes quickly and accurately on election day.

Overall, Shasta County’s decision to switch from electronic voting machines to paper ballots is an important step forward in ensuring fair and secure elections in California and beyond.