Thread by @dnichols99

Today, I had one of those phone calls that leaves me frustrated.

The caller started with legitimate questions and Virginia's rwcent risk-limiting audit. Then broke into questions of a more conspiratorial nature.
I decided to try to get some answers myself.
1/

"Dominion machines can be connected to the internet."
Virginia law doesn't allow the voting machines to be connected to the internet.
"There's no way you could possibly know that none of them were."
So what proof would satisfy you? What if the machine had a log?
2/

"No. That could have been manipulated when the Chinese hacked in."
So we could get everyone who touched a Dominion machine in a room to tell you they didn't connect a machine to the internet?
"Not likely. I wouldn't believe them."
3/

"And yes. The Chinese hacked the voting machines. I have proof. I don't trust the CIA or the FBI or whoever when they say it wasn't."
What if I could show you the record of the full security history at the Department of Elections for the last year?
4/

"You would just manipulate it somehow."
*sighs
"This whole election was fraudulent. People have lost confidence don't you think that's a bad thing?!"
Yes, I do. But people have lost confidence because, even before voting started, they were told the election was fraudulent.
5/

But only if one particular person lost. Note that I've presented several scenarios and in none of them would empirical evidence sway your opinion. So if you're opinion can't change no matter what I say or do, what is the point of this conversation?
6/

"Don't you think we should go back to paper ballots?"
Virginia votes on paper ballots. All voters.
"Then shouldn't people count them instead of computers?"
And if that happened, how long would it be before the same people concerned about integrity now
7/

were concerned about "who" was counting the ballots because they aren't the "right" people? The fact is, there's nothing we can do that won't lead to conspiracy theories and lies from some of those who are unsatisfied with the outcome.
8/

They will tell lies and spread those lies far and wide. And as we've just discovered, no amount of evidence will sway your opinion. You've believed the lie. And now you want me and election officials like me to fix what's not broken because you refuse to believe evidence.
9/

Dear reader, this is when the yelling and cussing started from the caller. I admittedly talked over them to thank them for calling, and hung up.
10/

As election administrators, we have a lot of work to do to restore confidence and must start by focusing on those who are willing to listen to reason, ask questions, and believe evidence.
11/

#TheBigLie has done immeasurable damage to our electoral system and our democracy. But we must work every day to restore confidence. It won't be easy. And it won't be fast. But it must be done.
/end

As the kids say, since this "blew up" (at least compared to everything else in my little Twitter world).

I don't have a SoundCloud, so...
-Thank an election official
-Sign up to be a poll worker
-Follow @HighTurnout and listen to the podcast