On August 7th, Governor Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) issued Executive Order Number Thirty-Five, strengthening election security procedures in Virginia. The Executive Order focuses on three main points: ballot security, testing and certifying counting machines, and a triple-check of election results.

Youngkin’s Executive Order reinforces many preexisting ballot security measures. “We use 100% paper ballots with a strict chain of custody. We use counting machines, not voting machines, that are tested prior to every election and never connected to the internet. We do not mass mail ballots. We monitor our drop boxes 24/7,” Youngkin said. The Executive Order focuses on certifying election security procedures and ensuring the accuracy of voter lists; a definite step in the right direction.

Virginia has already taken certain measures to increase the integrity of their elections. They are one of only three states that requires a full nine-digit Social Security Number for voter registration. Nonetheless, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares reported that over 6,000 non-citizens were removed from voter rolls recently.

The Order also mentions the current Virginia law that absentee ballots must be requested before they are mailed. This is important, because mailing ballots to deceased individuals, nonexistent addresses, or people who work in one state and live in another creates the potential for election security breaches.

The close margins of many Virginia elections demonstrate the importance of ballot security measures. The current House of Delegates is split 51-49 along partisan lines. In 2017, a single race in Newport News decided which party would have the majority in a similar split. This race came to a perfect tie, and was decided by pulling the victor’s name from a bowl, per the Virginia Code. One single instance of fraud in this local race could have tipped the balance of the entire Virginia legislature.

This event alone demonstrates the pressing need for improved election security measures across the country. It is crucial that all citizens have faith and confidence in the integrity, not only of their own vote, but of the entire election system. Governor Youngkin’s recent efforts in this regard are encouraging for future elections.

Virginia’s commitment towards increasing election security provides an example for other states to follow. Many states, especially those more closely contested than Virginia, should adopt more stringent ballot security standards to ensure the public’s trust and confidence in the nation’s electoral system.