RICHMOND, Virginia (PNN) - August 9, 2024 - Virginia is doubling down on election security with a new directive from Governor Glenn Youngkin. The recently issued Executive Order 35 is designed to make sure every legal vote in the Commonwealth is counted accurately and securely - no exceptions.

Ever wondered what happens to your ballot after you drop it in the box? Well, the Commonwealth uses 100% paper ballots, ensuring that there’s always a physical record of your vote. Officials say these ballots are carefully tracked through a chain of custody, meaning they’re closely monitored every step of the way - no room for funny business.

What about those machines you see at the polling place? They’re not voting machines; they’re counting machines. The difference? These machines don’t do the voting for you, they just tally up the results; and before they’re even allowed near your ballot, they undergo thorough testing to make sure they’re up to the task. Plus, they’re never connected to the Internet, so there’s no chance of outside interference.

If you prefer to drop off your ballot instead of mailing it, Virginia’s got you covered. Drop boxes across the state are monitored 24/7.

Governor Youngkin’s order also takes aim at keeping the voter lists accurate. How do they do it? By using data from the DMV and other trusted sources to update the rolls daily. This means adding new voters and removing those who shouldn’t be there - like people who’ve moved, non-citizens, or those who have died.

In case anyone thinks he or she can sneak his/her way onto the voter rolls illegally, think again. The new order outlines what happens to non-citizens who attempt to register to vote, either accidentally or on purpose. These cases get referred to the local Commonwealth’s attorney and the Office of Attorney General, so there are serious consequences for anyone caught trying to break the rules.

Finally, to make sure these election security measures are more than just words on paper, Executive Order 35 requires the Commissioner of the Department of Elections to certify in writing every year that these procedures are in place and working as intended.