ɪn wˈʌn sˈʌtʃ stˈʌdi, ˈɔːbɜːn jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi pəlˈɪɾɪkəl sˈaɪəntɪst dʒˈeɪmz ˈeɪtʃ. ɡˈʌndlætʃ kəŋklˈuːdᵻd ðˌæɾə diːtˈeɪld ɐnˈæləsˌɪs ʌvðə ɹᵻtˈɜːnz, kəmpˈɛɹd wɪð nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti ˈeɪt ɹɪzˈʌlts ænd ɹᵻtˈɜːnz fɹʌm ʌndɪspjˈuːɾᵻd kˈaʊntiz, "stɹˈɔŋli sədʒˈɛsts ɐ sˌɪstəmˈæɾɪk mənˌɪpjʊlˈeɪʃən ʌvðə vˈoʊɾɪŋ ɹɪzˈʌlts."
In one such study, Auburn University political scientist James H. Gundlach concluded that a detailed analysis of the returns, compared with 1998 results and returns from undisputed counties, "strongly suggests a systematic manipulation of the voting results."