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HomeBallot Integrity

Ballot Integrity

Know the facts on election security: Local election authorities work to keep your ballot secure.


During 2022, the LWVKC Observer Corps interviewed five Kansas City, Missouri area election boards that serve voters in our area. 

Kansas City Board of Elections
Jackson County Election Board
Cass County Election Authority
Clay County Board of Election Commissioners
Platte County Board of Elections

Based on these interviews and attendance at election board audits and equipment tests, voters can be confident that their ballots are secure and their votes count. This is what we learned.


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Your voting equipment is not connected to the Internet.

  • Voting machines are not connected to the Internet, so they cannot be hacked.
  • Vote-counting machines are not connected to the Internet, so they cannot be hacked.

Paper ballots are used to determine the results of the election.

  • Your paper ballot produces a paper trail that can be used to verify election results in audits and recounts. 
  • If you use a machine to mark your ballot, it produces a paper ballot. You, the voter, can then verify your ballot before you cast it. 

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Election equipment, including machines and ballots, are monitored throughout the election process, by bipartisan teams. 

 

  • The bipartisan supervision of the chain of custody gives greater confidence in election security.
  • Checklists ensure that state-mandated procedures are followed and documented.

Voting machines are tested both before and after Election Day in public forums. 


  • Election authorities transparently announce the time and date of tests so that the media and the public can attend.
  • Bipartisan teams conduct pre- and post-election testing.

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Post-election audits verify the integrity of vote counts, based on hand counts or randomly selected ballots by bipartisan teams. 

 

 

  • Audits are performed by local election officials before certification.
  • Audits are performed in accordance with Missouri law.

These statements of fact should give the voter confidence that their ballot is secure.