For years, old and malfunctioning equipment have contributed to a wide range of Election Day problems - from polling places opening late, which have resulted in long lines, to alleged vote switches due to miscalibration. In light of the widespread problems reported in the November 2014 elections, New Virginia Majority applauds the State Board of Elections and the Department of Elections for conducting a review and audit of the aging voting equipment, and we commend the State Board of Elections and the Department of Elections for your deliberate and transparent approach to evaluating the machines in question.

The report released last week from Pro V & V highlight troubling vulnerabilities in certain makes and models of DRE machines in use in Virginia, specifically the WinVote machines. Although the report that was released was not comprehensive, what is included in the report is sufficient to raise serious concerns about the security of the vote in Virginia.

While there is currently no evidence that the security of the past elections has been compromised by malicious actors, the reported vulnerabilities demonstrate how easy a target these machines can be in the future. As citizens, we deserve to have the utmost confidence in our elections. When voters cannot trust that their ballot is secure, trust in our democracy is undermined.

We urge the SBE to consider the immediate decertification of these machines. We understand that taking these machines out of commission can be difficult and expensive for localities, especially given this year’s elections. However, Virginia has elections every year; arguably, there is no convenient time to decertify equipment that is used by numerous localities across the Commonwealth. However, continuing to rely on outdated and insecure technology undermines our democracy and we must take proactive steps before a larger problem emerges.

We also hope that the SBE will conduct a more comprehensive review of all of the voting equipment used across the Commonwealth. This would require that all localities provide sufficient and timely reports to the SBE and the Department of Elections. Under §24.2-103, the State Board of Elections has the authority to require electoral boards and registrars to provide information requested by the State Board. We urge the SBE to move forward with establishing minimum reporting standards so that  so that the SBE and the agency can evaluate how elections are administered in Virginia in order to adequately address any vulnerabilities as well as unnecessary barriers to voting.

We look forward to working with you and localities to ensure a smooth transition away from the WinVote machines as soon as possible, and we commit to renewing our efforts to secure sufficient funding from the General Assembly in order to make sure that Virginia’s elections meet the highest of standards.