Gov. Glenn Youngkin Orders Virginia Officials To Use Paper Ballots For November Election

On Wednesday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) took a common-sense step for election integrity by mandating paper ballots for voters. Youngkin's executive order, Executive Order 35, outlines a number of security procedures that election officials in the commonwealth must implement in the next three months before November 5.

The executive order mandates several reforms, including a documented chain of custody to track ballots throughout the process, using only paper ballots that would be counted by machines that weren't connected to the internet, and using DMV data to verify voter identity. The governor also ordered Virginia's Department of Elections to remove any non-citizens from the voter rolls who may have purposefully or accidentally been registered to vote.

"The Virginia model for Election Security works. This isn't a Democrat or Republican issue, it's an American and Virginian issue," Youngkin said in a statement. "Every legal vote deserves to be counted without being watered down by illegal votes or inaccurate machines. In Virginia, we don't play games, and our model for election security is working."

"We use 100% paper ballots with a strict chain of custody. We use counting machines, not voting machines, that are tested prior to every election and never connected to the internet. We do not mass mail ballots. We monitor our drop boxes 24/7," Youngkin said. "We verify the legal presence and identity of voters using DMV data and other trusted data sources to update our voter rolls daily, not only adding new voters, but scrubbing the lists to remove those that should not be on it, like the deceased, individuals that have moved, and non-citizens that have accidentally or maliciously attempted to register."

Republican nominee Donald Trump praised the Virginia governor's executive order, writing on Truth Social, "The beautiful Commonwealth of Virginia, superbly led by Governor Glenn Youngkin, IS TAKING A STRONG LEAD IN SECURING THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER — PROTECTING EVERY LEGAL VOTE AND KEEPING ILLEGAL ALIENS THAT HAVE BEEN LET INTO OUR COUNTRY FROM VOTING. All votes will be on paper ballots and counted safely and fairly, not by machines connected to the internet — A big security risk. We must work hard to make sure the Election is FAIR and SECURE!!! EVERY STATE SHOULD FOLLOW VIRGINIA'S LEAD. We need volunteers to watch the polls - So important. The Election on November 5 will be the MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY. Thank you Glenn, GREAT JOB!!!"

"Call me crazy, but I think American elections should be decided by American citizens and Virginia elections should be decided by Virginians," Youngkin told Fox News host Sean Hannity about the executive order. "That's why this executive order is so important because it does make sure that we have clean voter rolls. It makes sure that votes are counted accurately, and it recognizes the fact that elections need to be trusted by voters, and that's exactly what we are doing in Virginia. This is going to be the most important election in our lifetime. We are going to see the future of America determined, and I want to make sure that Virginians can trust this election process."

Gov. Youngkin is setting the standard for states across the nation on election integrity. The 2020 election shook the confidence of millions of Americans in the voting process, and elected officials will only restore that trust through common sense reforms.

WATCH:

Call me crazy, but I think American elections should be decided by American citizens, and Virginia elections should be decided by Virginians. pic.twitter.com/JMVhqmqB1D

— Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) August 8, 2024

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