Lever voting machines tabulated results mechanically through a system of gears, levers, and counters without the need for electricity or electronic components. Here’s how they worked:

1. Setting Up the Machine

   - Each machine had a large face with rows of levers or switches corresponding to candidates or ballot options. Voters would pull a lever next to their chosen candidate or issue.

   - The machine was "locked" initially, ensuring no one could view the counters until the polls closed.

2. Casting a Vote

   - The voter entered the booth, pulled down a lever to indicate their choice, and locked in their selection by pulling a large master lever at the end.

   - Pulling the master lever registered the vote internally and simultaneously reset the individual voting levers to prevent double voting.

   - Each time a lever was pulled, it mechanically advanced a counter associated with the candidate or ballot measure, logging a single vote on that counter.

3. Tabulation Mechanism

   - Inside the machine, each vote choice had its own mechanical counter. When a voter pulled the lever for a particular candidate or choice, it rotated a gear connected to the counter for that selection, incrementing it by one.

   - These counters, called "odometer-style" counters, displayed the cumulative total for each candidate or option and were visible to election officials when the machine was opened.

4. Reading the Results

   - At the end of the election, officials would open the back of the machine to view the final tallies.

   - The counters for each candidate or ballot measure were displayed, showing the total number of votes each received.

   - Officials would manually record these numbers, which would then be added to other precincts' totals.

5. Preventing Fraud

   - Since each lever could only advance the counter by one vote per pull, the machines had built-in protections against ballot stuffing.

   - Mechanical interlocks prevented voters from selecting multiple options in the same race, thus reducing errors.

Lever voting machines were considered reliable due to their simplicity, and because they tabulated results on internal counters, they left no paper trail. However, the lack of an audit mechanism eventually became a disadvantage, especially compared to more modern voting systems with digital records or paper backups.

Voter fraud in U.S. elections is rare and typically occurs in isolated incidents, but there have been some notable cases over the years. Here are a few examples often cited as significant:

 1. Tammany Hall Corruption (1800s - Early 1900s)

   - In New York City, Tammany Hall, a political organisation, was infamous for its voter fraud, especially in the late 19th century. The organisation controlled votes by intimidating voters, using repeat voters (individuals voting multiple times), and registering deceased individuals to pad election results. This corrupt machine influenced New York City and state elections for decades.

 2. 1950s and 1960s Chicago Elections

   - In Chicago, during Richard J. Daley’s time as mayor, there were widespread allegations of voter fraud, including vote buying and ballot stuffing. The 1960 presidential election, in which John F. Kennedy narrowly defeated Richard Nixon, is often mentioned in this context. Kennedy won Illinois by a slim margin, and some historians believe that irregularities in Chicago may have influenced the outcome.

 3. The 2002 Election in Noxubee County, Mississippi

   - In Noxubee County, Mississippi, a Democratic Party official was accused of manipulating absentee ballots to ensure that specific candidates won. The official allegedly pressured voters, particularly elderly and vulnerable individuals, to vote for specific candidates. The case led to a lawsuit under the Voting Rights Act, and the official was found guilty of civil rights violations.

 4. 2018 North Carolina's 9th Congressional District

   - In 2018, allegations of absentee ballot fraud surfaced in North Carolina's 9th Congressional District. A political operative working for Republican candidate Mark Harris was accused of tampering with absentee ballots by collecting and submitting them on behalf of voters, some of whom had not even completed their ballots. The case led to an investigation, and the election results were ultimately invalidated, prompting a new election in 2019.

 5. Philadelphia “Ring of 50” (1994)

   - In 1994, a group of 50 Philadelphia election officials and campaign workers were indicted in a scheme to falsify voter rolls, manipulate absentee ballots, and stuff ballot boxes to ensure certain candidates’ victories in state elections. The incident highlighted the potential for abuse in absentee voting when proper controls are not in place.

 6. Miami Mayoral Election (1997)

   - The 1997 Miami mayoral election was tainted by a significant voter fraud scandal involving absentee ballots. The race’s outcome was overturned when it was found that hundreds of absentee ballots were fraudulent, with ballots cast by ineligible voters, non-residents, and individuals who had not requested them. The case led to multiple arrests and a reevaluation of absentee voting protocols.

 7. Hawkins County, Tennessee (1946)

   - In Hawkins County, Tennessee, in 1946, a group of local officials was found guilty of tampering with the election process. They had manipulated ballots and engaged in other fraudulent practices to control the outcome of local elections. This case remains one of the more notorious examples of local election corruption.