A cornerstone of our American democracy is a free, fair and secure election process. Regardless of your party affiliation, you need to be assured the process encourages eligible voters to vote and that their choices are accurately recorded and counted. Thousands of Virginians passionately defend this cornerstone. More than 133 certified registrars who follow 470 pages of Virginia election law operate year-round to ensure it. And when election season comes around, another 15,000 Virginians join the process as poll watchers, precinct captains and other roles. These are your friends and neighbors — people you see in the grocery store, or at church or while walking in your neighborhood. They are trained and retrained to be on the front lines of the election to ensure a free and fair process with an accurate outcome decided by the majority of voters. They show up and work hard to protect your vote and the collective wishes of your community. These guardians are the front line of a process that the Virginia Department of Elections has in place to ensure your elections are not susceptible to subterfuge. These are your defenders of democracy. In recent years, much misinformation and disinformation has been disseminated about our election system. Some (but not all, of course) of these efforts have been intentional and designed to whittle away at public trust. But facts still stand soundly behind your ability to trust that our elections are an accurate reflection of the voice of the people. While cybersecurity always is a concern, it’s important to know that Virginia law prohibits voting machines from being connected to the internet — and there always is a paper record of your vote.
Virginia: Pending budget would prevent audit of presidential election results | Graham Moomaw/Virginia Mercury
Virginia conducts routine audits of elections, ensuring ballot and machine integrity, but recent budget language passed by the Democratic General Assembly eliminates such audits for the 2024 presidential contest, despite their requirement for some elections. Del. Mark Sickles clarified that the budget intends to prevent delays in certifying the election, especially after past concerns over litigation. This amendment stipulates that risk-limiting audits won’t be conducted for presidential elections, likely redirecting audit efforts to other contests like the U.S. Senate race or randomly selected U.S. House elections. The budget also extends the post-election timeline for local electoral boards to certify results, offering them more time to verify ballots and outcomes. While GOP lawmakers voiced objections, Governor Glenn Youngkin’s office emphasized restoring faith in elections, and despite Republican criticisms, there have been no widespread voter fraud cases in recent years. Read Article