I didn't expect the quotes to make it into the output. I guess I should have but I've never seen the $(file) construct before debugging this Makefile.

It gives no errors with the make that comes with macOS. Instead, it just does nothing.

Install a newer make and:
$ make
make: 'blarg' is up to date.

$ cat blarg
"Let's see some text!"

Congratulations Dr. Turner!

I’m begging here: elections officials should be proactively asking for help from security researchers in calls like this.

Analysis should be done, and the system should be public before announcing adoption.

Doing it this way forces bad press that I don’t want to give. It’s bad for democracy.

“Security experts say that while nothing on the internet can be completely impenetrable from hacking, advances in cloud-based technology, as well as linking mobile voting to a paper backup system, could help alleviate some of the concerns”

This is incorrect, and no security expert was quoted.