Governor Glenn Youngkin Issues Executive Order to Codify Comprehensive Election Security Measures to Protect Legal Voters and Accurate Counts
RICHMOND, VA — Governor Glenn Youngkin today issued Executive Order 35, which codifies the election security procedures put into place during his administration, including stringent ballot security, complete and thorough counting machine testing, and best-in-the-nation voter list maintenance.
“The Virginia model for Election Security works. This isn't a Democrat or Republican issue, it's an American and Virginian issue. Every legal vote deserves to be counted without being watered down by illegal votes or inaccurate machines. In Virginia, we don’t play games and our model for election security is working,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin.
“We use 100% paper ballots with a strict chain of custody. We use counting machines, not voting machines, that are tested prior to every election and never connected to the internet. We do not mass mail ballots. We monitor our drop boxes 24/7. We verify the legal presence and identity of voters using DMV data and other trusted data sources to update our voter rolls daily, not only adding new voters, but scrubbing the lists to remove those that should not be on it, like the deceased, individuals that have moved, and non-citizens that have accidentally or maliciously attempted to register,” Governor Glenn Youngkin continued.
The EO codifies improvements to election security made during the Governor’s administration by directing the Commissioner of the Department of Elections to certify in writing annually that these improvements are in place. The EO also outlines the procedures in place for non-citizens who attempt to violate the law and register to vote, which includes referral to the local Commonwealth’s attorney and the Office of Attorney General, which has concurrent jurisdiction.
Executive Order 35 Summary
Fairness, Transparency and Legality in Virginia’s Voting process
• 100% paper ballots providing a physical record
• Strict chain of custody for ballots and voting equipment
• All mailed ballots must be requested by application
• No mass mailing of ballots
• Paper ballot counting machines, not voting machines
• Rigorous testing of voting equipment before elections
• Counting machines not connected to internet
• 24/7 monitoring of drop boxes
Ballot Security: Tracking and Chain of Custody
• Documented chain of custody for every voting day
• Ballot tracking through every step in the voting process
• Ballot counts are reconciled after every voting day
• Daily checks to ensure equal number of voters and ballots used
Ballot Security: Absentee and Provisional Voting
• All mailed absentee ballots must be requested by a qualified voter
• Ballots cannot be forwarded
• All undeliverable ballots are returned to Voter Registration Office
• All returned mailed ballots are vetted for the voter’s correct address, year of birth, and last four of SSN
• Provisional ballots for same Day Registrants are not counted until the voter’s eligibility has been certified in the Voter Registration Office
Election Security: Voting Equipment
• Virginia uses paper ballot counters, not “voting machines”
• Ballot counters are not connected to the internet
• Ballot counters are rigorously tested and certified to state and federal standards
• All equipment in the polling place, ballot counters and electronic pollbooks, is thoroughly tested before each election.
Election Security: Result Accuracy is Triple-Checked
• Officers of Election check the election results in the precinct on Election Night
• Local Electoral Boards conduct a public Canvass of election results immediately following the election and certify results to The Department of Elections
• Department of Elections conduct their own review of results prior to certification
PLUS: Statewide and local audits are conducted to ensure accuracy before results are certified by The Department of Elections
Election Security: Protecting Voter Lists
• Voter list is updated daily to add voters, change information and remove voters
• Remove ineligible voters including felons and mentally incapacitated
• Remove people who are unable to verify citizenship to the DMV
• DMV verifies proof of identity and legal status through the DHS Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database and the Social Security Administration database
• DMV shares a daily data file of non-citizen transactions including addresses and document numbers with Department of Elections
• Registrars are required by law to cancel the registration of non-citizens and to immediately contact the Commonwealth’s Attorney Office.
Election Security: Safe and Orderly Conduct at Polling Places
Prohibited activities at Polling Places (includes Early Voting sites):
• Hinder, delay, or intimidate a qualified voter
• Hinder or delay an officer of Election
• Attempt to influence any person casting a ballot
• Violate the privacy of other voters
• Possessing any firearm within 40 feet of the Polling Place
• Impede the orderly conduct of the election