Ballot counting machines are probably a case of over-automation. The polls station clerks are volunteers and are maybe doing their first election. Setting up a

Ballot counting machines are probably a case of over-automation. The polls station clerks are volunteers and are maybe doing their first election. Setting up a manual process is just way easier then dealing with complex computer reporting systems. As soon as some machine or computer is not cooperating they are stuck. With pen and paper the worst that can happen is that the pen is out of ink.