The county announced the change Oct. 22. The sticks, used during the COVID-19 pandemic and in later elections, had been discontinued after voters requested that they no longer be provided, Deputy Administrator of Elections Lisa Pierce said.

Pierce said some voters reported trying to select a Democratic candidate but seeing a Republican candidate listed above become highlighted instead. She said the sticks’ narrow tips let voters tap directly on a name, reducing the chance that a finger angled across the screen will touch an adjacent selection.

The complaints surfaced on social media during the first week of early voting, which began Oct. 14. Among those who described a problem was Stella Parton, sister of country music star Dolly Parton. The reports came as Tennesseans began voting in races for governor, Congress and the state Legislature, as well as on three proposed constitutional amendments.

Tennessee Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins said the state’s voting systems have multiple safeguards intended to record voters’ choices. He said voters can check their selections on the touchscreen, review a summary before submitting the ballot and inspect the printed paper record to make sure it reflects their choices.

Voters who notice a problem should alert a poll worker or contact their county election commission before casting the ballot, election officials said. Checking the paper record before submission provides an additional opportunity to catch a selection that does not match a voter’s intent.