How Do States Ensure the Integrity of the Election Process?

Question

Obviously their goal of each election is to select the people's choice for public office and do so in a free, honest, and accurate way.

Answer 1

As noted in one of the above answers, most states require that the election judges at the polls include members of both parties (as well as the election judges at any place where ballots are counted). In addition to the official election judges, both parties are authorized to have other observers present.

Some states have a mandatory verification procedure involving a second count of randomly selected precincts and races to assure that the accuracy of the original count. In addition, most states have a mandatory hand recount provision for elections that are close (typically within half of a percent).

Beyond that, there are a lot of ideas that are floating out there on how to best ensure the integrity of the process. Based on my own experience in recounts, I prefer optic scan ballot as the easiest to verify the accuracy of the vote totals.

Based on my experience in law enforcement, I am not a fan of requiring photo ID. It is as easy to create a credible false ID as it is to falsely register. Given the number of election judges in any major jurisdiction, I do not think it is possible to give enough election judges sufficient training on recognizing false IDs to make it a useful tool for election purposes.

Answer 2

One thing they should add to the protections is to require PHOTO IDS to vote. Most require you to register before election day. This theoretically allows the Board of Elections to confirm you are a legal resident before allowing you to vote. Voting machines have several protections built in to prevent and detect tampering. Nearly every state requires the polls are staffed by members of both major parties.

Answer 3

In Georgia, we are moving to the voter ID (i.e. you must have a photo ID to be able to vote.) Also, for what ever reason, there must be (by law) at least one minority working at each polling place.