Yes, Virginia, our elections in Josephine County, Oregon are secure. There’s a great deal of misinformation available, so let’s look at what actually happens, keeping in mind three very important facts:
- During elections, County Clerk Rhiannon Henkels makes sure that any time ballots are being processed (signature verification, opening or tabulation), the process is visible online via the County Clerk's website.
- Everything in County Clerk's office is a matter of public record.
- Josephine County’s election system for counting ballots is not on the county network, nor on the internet; in other words, it is not online; rather, it exists strictly in the County Clerk’s office. That means it is secure from outside sources or bad actors. Passwords are all secure with 1 person, and while ballots are being tabulated, the election results are pulled from the tabulator and put on a thumb drive. When the thumb drive is not in use, it is locked in a secure location that only the County cCerk can access.
As an election draws near, Rhiannon Henkels, as County Clerk, in her role in the chain of custody, meets the ballot vendor’s truck at the Medford Post Office. She unlocks the truck, receives the ballots, and hands them over to the post office. She works with the local postmaster to ensure the ballots do not have to travel to Portland to be processed. Instead, they go directly to Grants Pass where they are released to be delivered to voters.
Some voters mail in their ballots; those ballots go to Portland to be processed (as does any mail). When they return to Grants Pass, the postal worker brings the ballots to the County Clerk’s office every day, where Ms. Henkels meets that person and takes custody of the ballots.
Some voters place their ballots in drop boxes. Those ballots are picked up daily, following the Secretary of State Office’s security plan. Ballots are collected from the box, put into official ballot bags, which are then sealed with tamper-resistant, numbered identifiers. The information is logged. When the sealed bags reach the County Clerk’s office, the tags are removed and logged by a different person.
Every ballot has a signature, and every signature is verified. There are 3 signature verifiers, who attend Secretary of State approved and sponsored handwriting training every year. Sometimes signatures are not accepted, and then the voter is notified and has the opportunity address the concern.
In short, the system is as follows:
- Ballots are received from vendor and mailed out.
- Ballots are returned via US Postal Service or via drop box (locations available on County Clerk’s webpage).
- In-person observers are welcome; email in advance to schedule a time (in person observation schedule available on County Clerk website)
- Signatures are verified; concerns about signatures are addressed (allowing voters to rectify mistakes)
- Accepted ballots are opened and separated
- Ballots are scanned
- Results are published after the election ends
So you see, Virginia, if you have concerns about the Josephine County elections, you can observe online, call with questions, or schedule a time to observe in person. The process is not connected to the internet, nor to the county network.
Your vote matters, your vote will be counted. Do your own research, fill out that ballot, return it, and be a part of good governance.