Protecting Your Vote: Election Security and Vote Counting

As Election Day approaches, voters in Fairfax County can be confident that their vote is protected. Comprehensive measures ensure every vote is accurately recorded, safely stored and properly counted. From safeguarding ballots and voting machines to conducting post-election canvassing, the county’s Office of Elections prioritizes security at every step. 

Secure Ballots and Drop Boxes 

Fairfax County has strict protocols to protect mail-in absentee ballots, an increasingly popular voting method. Election officers closely monitor official drop box ballot returns. The 24/7 drop box at the Fairfax County Government Center is under video surveillance and boxes are physically secured with padlocks. Each ballot follows a strict chain of custody. Ballots are retrieved from the drop box multiple times daily. 

Two election officials transport ballots collected from drop boxes in sealed containers to the Office of Elections. Once there, each transfer step is documented, ensuring that every absentee ballot is accounted for and properly stored. 

Voting Machine Testing and Security 

Fairfax County uses DS200 and DS850 ballot scanners that are certified at both state and federal levels to meet required standards for accuracy and security. Before each election, these machines undergo rigorous logic and accuracy testing to verify their ability to read and tabulate ballots correctly. Election officials check hardware and software to ensure proper functioning and security measures are confirmed to prevent unauthorized access. Representatives from political parties are invited to observe these tests to ensure transparency. 

A key security feature of these voting machines is that they do not have modems or wireless capabilities, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. This “air gapping” ensures the machines cannot be hacked or tampered with remotely. The machine’s digital scanner captures an image of the front and back of each ballot while also tallying the votes. After voting ends, results and ballot images are encrypted and securely stored on proprietary USB drives transported to election headquarters by two election officers using chain of custody protocols. Voted ballots are sealed, labeled for tracking and transported to secure storage at the courthouse. 

Preventing Double Voting 

Virginia’s statewide voter database tracks every vote cast. Once a ballot is submitted—whether in person, by mail or through early voting—it is recorded in the database and pollbook, preventing counting of additional ballots under the same voter’s name. 

Counting and Verifying Every Ballot 

On Election Night, Fairfax County reports votes cast on Election Day, during early voting and by absentee ballot. Results are not final until all absentee and provisional ballots are reviewed. Virginia law allows absentee ballots postmarked on or before Election Day and received by noon on the Friday after to be counted. Provisional ballots are reviewed in the days following the election and accepted ballots are tallied by machine and added to the vote totals. 

With more than 745,000 registered voters in Fairfax County, the largest jurisdiction in Virginia, accurate tabulation takes time. Election Night results are preliminary until all absentee and provisional ballots are counted. Once tallied, the Electoral Board can certify the final counts, which must be submitted to the Virginia Board of Elections by the second Friday after the election.   

Post-Election Canvass and Audits 

The post-election canvass is a critical step in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of election results. After Election Day, a canvass reconciles the total ballots cast with the number of voters, confirming that the data from voting machines matches printed reports. All valid ballots are included in the final count and any discrepancies are addressed before certification. 

Fairfax County also conducts risk-limiting audits, comparing a random sample of paper ballots with electronic results for accuracy. Post-election audits are conducted with officials, observers, and party representatives present. 

Through rigorous machine testing, secure ballot handling and transparent auditing, Fairfax County ensures that every eligible vote is counted.