House Democrat: Paper ballots protect against Musk’s potential election hacking
The 49-of-50-states detail is worth sitting with. If nearly every state already keeps paper records, then the practical gap Himes is pointing at is narrow, and his real worry is about the one state that doesn't and about the broader influence Musk can wield through his platforms and money. That is a legitimate concern for a Democratic lawmaker, especially given Musk's visible turn toward Republican causes this cycle.
At the same time, I think it is fair to ask what exactly is being claimed. Paper ballots are a proven safeguard against certain kinds of digital tampering, and election officials across both parties have leaned on them for years. But calling out one wealthy individual by name, before any specific incident, blurs the line between election security and campaign rhetoric. I would want to know which state lacks paper records and whether Himes is pointing at a real vulnerability or making a political point.
The story matters because it sits at the intersection of two live debates: how trustworthy our voting systems are, and how much influence a single billionaire should have. I land somewhere in the middle. Defending paper trails is sensible. Naming Musk as the threat, without evidence, is a harder sell.