An Agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia
| 5,735,673 | Registered voters live in Virginia as of May 31, 2020 |
| 15,000 | Volunteers are needed to conduct general elections in Virginia (become one) |
| 470 | Pages of code are followed in conducting elections in Virginia |
| 133 | Certified registrars serve voters across the Commonwealth |
| 95 | Independent counties make up Virginia |
| 38 | Independent cities make up Virginia |
| 17 | Pages long (the job description of a VA registrar) |
| 1 | Vote (closest margin of victory in a Virginia election—see, your vote matters!) |
| 0 | Voting machines are connected to internet on election day |
1892: The first mechanical voting machine debuted. Invented in 1889 by safe maker Jacob H. Myers, it was known as the Myers Ballot Machine or the Automatic Voting Booth, and was the forerunner of lever machines.
1899: Congress approves the use of mechanical voting machines for federal elections.The Atlantic
1950: The first use of voting machines in a Virginia election, in Arlington County. (A mechanical lever machine by Automatic Voting Machine Corp. of Jamestown, NY.)
2002: Under the Help America Vote Act, federal funds allow Virginia to replace old lever machines with new “direct recording electronic” (DRE) voting systems. However, security issues with the DRE system would eventually lead to their replacement.
2016: Russian hackers scan Virginia's voting systems looking for weaknesses. While unable to access the state's election infrastructure, the attempt underscored the need to invest in a more secure system with verification failsafes and backup.
2017: The Virginia State Board of Elections certifies all direct recording electronic (DRE) voting machines and mandates Virginia adopt a new system backed by paper ballots.
2020: Today in Virginia, electronic pollbooks and voting machines are NEVER connected to the internet on Election Day, and our 100 percent voter-verified paper ballots system leaves an auditable trail of proof if needed.
2020+: Through ongoing risk assessment, training, technology and infrastructure advancements, and strategic partnerships, Virginia remains ever vigilant and committed to protecting the rights and votes of its citizens.
As a policy analyst for the Virginia department of elections —
it's both my role and sworn duty to uphold the integrity of our electoral process. Fair elections are the bedrock of Virginia and our nation, and I'm not about to let anyone interfere with that—or us.
Being a registrar liaison supervisor takes genuine respect for all —
it's the ability to walk in the shoes of others and to listen with open ears and keep an open mind;
and I think that's a good way to build the trust in Virginia.
Being director of elections means constantly preparing for the next election —
and that's a full-time, 365-day job. We work hard every day training and preparing for just one.
Because on Election Day you just can't leave anything to chance. And we never do.
As registrar, my most important job is registering voters —
and ensuring every Virginian who wants to vote CAN vote. It's your right to share in the democratic
process of our state and our nation, and it takes all of us trusting each other to make it work.
As director of elections, I'm here to ensure voters that our elections are secure and free from interference —
and that begins by reassuring that voting machines are never connected to the internet in any way on Election Day.
No wires. No Wifi. No intrusion.
Being a registar means being here for my voters and all Virginians —
to ensure that whether voting in person at their polling place or by mail-in ballot, or even in my office,
that their vote is validated, it is secured, and it is counted. Always.
