Virginia Governor Implements New Measures To Strengthen Election Security

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has taken steps to enhance security measures ahead of the upcoming November election. In an executive order signed on August 7th, Youngkin outlined several measures to ensure the integrity of the election process.

One of the key measures is the use of paper ballots, which would help maintain a traceable record. Additionally, measures will be put in place to track the possession of ballots during early voting, match the number of ballots cast with the number of voters who have checked in, and ensure that absentee ballots are requested and received only by eligible voters. To further enhance security, absentee ballots will require the voter to provide their last four digits of the Social Security number and birth year when returning the ballot.

To safeguard against electronic interference, Virginia relies on paper ballot counting machines that are not connected to the internet. Before each election, these machines are thoroughly tested to ensure accuracy.

In addition to these measures, Governor Youngkin has directed the state to update its voter rolls. This includes removing individuals who are no longer eligible to vote, such as noncitizens and deceased voters. It has been reported that nearly 80,000 deceased voters have already been removed from the voter rolls.

The executive order also instructs the Department of Motor Vehicles to expedite data sharing with the Department of Elections, specifically regarding noncitizen transactions. This data sharing would help identify noncitizens who are registered to vote, and they would subsequently be removed from the voter rolls. Individuals incorrectly removed from the voter rolls will have a 14-day period to prove their eligibility to vote.

Furthermore, Virginia has implemented 24/7 camera surveillance at drop box locations to enhance security measures.

Governor Youngkin emphasized that the issue of election security is not a partisan matter but one that concerns all Americans and Virginians. He stated, “Every legal vote deserves to be counted without being diluted by illegal votes or inaccurate machines. In Virginia, we prioritize election security without compromising the democratic process.”

In the November 2021 elections, Governor Youngkin and the GOP achieved significant victories by flipping the gubernatorial mansion and the House of Delegates. However, Democrats maintain control of both houses of the state Legislature since earlier this year. Notably, the last time a GOP presidential candidate won Virginia was in 2004 with former President George W. Bush’s reelection.

Aside from the presidential race, Virginia will also witness other major races in November, including the Senate race between incumbent Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Republican candidate Hung Cao, as well as crucial House races in the Second, Seventh, and Tenth Congressional Districts.

The next Virginia gubernatorial election is scheduled for November 2025. Governor Youngkin, in accordance with the state’s constitution, is ineligible to run for a second consecutive term. Representative Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), who has decided not to seek reelection, is currently considered a frontrunner for the governorship.