How a Ballot Becomes a Vote in Virginia

All the steps you never knew about when it comes to getting your ballot, making sure it’s properly counted, and auditing the results.

So, you’ve done your part, filled in the circle, fulfilled your civic responsibility. Or maybe you are headed to the polls on Nov. 2 to vote on Election Day. Congratulations! But have you ever wondered what happens next? Buckle in, we’re getting into the nuts and bolts (literally) of election day in Virginia. 

1. Design the Ballot for Accuracy and Accessibility

Before you get your ballot, there are actually people in charge of designing the paper and programming the machines ahead of the election. Dogwood spoke with Andrea Gaines from the Virginia Department of Elections to find out more. 

2. Get Your Equipment and Paper to the Precincts

“The ballots are specific for each vendor,” Gaines said. Only ballots specifically printed for use in the machine can be read into the tabulators. Virginia has four vendors and four voting systems, and requires every ballot to be cast on voter-verified paper ballots and scanners [tabulators] are used in all localities.”

In some places, there are aggregated precincts that can print ballots on site, based on the individuals that come through. An example would be Chesterfield County’s use of their library branches as early voting locations for voters from multiple precincts. When a voter goes through the check-in process, their ballot gets printed on the spot. However ON election day, the ballots are specific to the precinct location. 

3. Test the Voter Machines and Ballots for Accuracy

Oh, and before you even see the physical ballot, voting machines go through logic and accuracy testing before being used in an election.

“This is where every locality tests every voting unit, every ballot, and all the programming for the election for accuracy,” Gaines said. The scanners and ballots that pass testing are used for the election.

4. This Is Where YOU Come In!

Registered voters get their ballots and do their thing!

5. Votes are Counted by Prescreened Machines

So, your ballot gets counted and sorted by the tabulator, and the results are reviewed by election officials “to ensure all candidates received the votes accurately and all ballot positions were read.”

6. Votes Are Reviewed by Election Officials and Data Scientists 

After each election in Virginia, an audit is conducted. According to Gaines, they conduct a statistical random sampling of ballots to confirm the accuracy of election results. This is sometimes confused with recounts. Unlike recounts, audits occur annually. You can view the audit from the 2020 election here. 

“A recount is either required by statute or ordered by the courts” to re-evaluate the accuracy of specific contests or full elections, said Gaines.