Digital Download: Technology in Virginia Elections

By Delegate Cliff Hayes Jr.

Virginia’s elections today combine time-honored principles with modern technology, striving for security, accessibility, and integrity.

Virginia uses optical scan voting systems: voters mark a paper ballot which is scanned by machines at the precinct.  For voters with disabilities, many precincts include ballot marking devices that generate marked ballots for scanning.  All voting systems must be certified by the State Board of Elections before use, and are tested in mock or actual elections.

Because technology evolves and risks persist, Virginia law strictly prohibits wireless communications among voting machines or between voting machines and external devices while polls are open.  That helps prevent remote hacking during voting hours.

Security is reinforced by multiple layers: logic and accuracy testing before every election ensures machines count correctly.  After the election, risk-limiting audits (statistical, manual cross checks of paper ballots) verify the electronic tally.  Local election offices implement security plans, restrict physical access to equipment, and train staff on cyber and procedural safeguards.

List accuracy is also a key piece of the puzzle. Virginia has moved toward new data-sharing agreements with other states and agencies to detect duplicate or invalid voter registrations, following its exit from the ERIC interstate voter list consortium.

“Security in elections isn’t optional – it’s the foundation of trust in our democracy.”

As threats grow more sophisticated, Virginia must continue investing in cyber defenses, staff training, infrastructure resilience, and transparent audit systems. That is how we preserve faith in every ballot, every voter, every election.