10 Key Facts on Election Integrity in Lenoir County, North Carolina
No Recorded Cyber Breaches: North Carolina’s election and voting systems have never been compromised by a cyberattack.
Collaborations: State election officials maintain continuous and strengthening ties with federal and state entities, which support them in enhancing both cyber and physical security, sharing crucial data, preparing for electoral activities, and managing potential threats.
Paper Voting Records: According to state legislation, all counties across the state utilize paper ballots to ensure a verifiable audit trail, allowing for straightforward auditing or recounting. Federal regulations also mandate the availability of ballot marking devices at each voting location for those who choose or require assistance in marking their ballots.
Approved Voting Equipment: The North Carolina State Board of Elections certifies all voting equipment following thorough evaluations and public showings. These systems must also receive approval from county authorities prior to acquisition. Furthermore, the systems adhere to national standards for voting technology and undergo audits in various other states.
Prohibition of Internet Connections: State laws prohibit the connection of voting apparatus to the internet, significantly reducing risks of digital intrusions. No voting machines within the state are equipped with modems or modem components.
Pre-Election Testing: Prior to each election, local electoral boards carry out pre-election testing on every machine to verify the accuracy of ballot encoding and vote counts for all electoral contests.
Nonpartisan, Qualified Staffing: Polling locations are manned by nonpartisan, well-trained local officials who are sworn to enforce state election laws collectively to fortify election integrity. Elections at both state and county levels are monitored by nonpartisan boards, with bipartisan observers also present during voting.
Routine Electoral Audits: Before finalizing election results, both State and County Election Boards engage in comprehensive audits aimed at identifying any discrepancies such as machine tampering or miscounts. A specific audit includes a manual tally of votes from randomly selected sites in each county to validate the precision of electronic counts.
Dedicated Investigation Unit: North Carolina boasts one of the few state-specific Election Investigations Divisions, manned by seasoned professionals who diligently investigate allegations of electoral fraud and escalate valid cases for legal action.
Educated and Proactive Electorate: The role of an informed electorate is crucial in securing elections. Voters are encouraged to actively participate in the electoral process, scrutinize their ballots prior to submission, address any voting issues with election officials, and commit to assisting at polls. Additionally, it is vital for voters to rely on verified information from official sources and critically evaluate electoral information prior to its dissemination to combat widespread misinformation.