Trending
As we approach tomorrow's election in Ohio, it is worth remembering just how hard those at county board of elections work to ensure that the election will be as secure as they can make it. After all, the work of safeguarding our elections is not accomplished in Columbus or Washington, D.C., it is done right here at home, by our friends and neighbors who take their responsibilities very seriously.
Here in Washington County, we do even better than the statewide accuracy average -- that is, post-election audits compared with initial declared results.
"Ours are always 100% when we do the audits," Board of Elections Director Mandy Amos said Wednesday.
There is both a Republican and a Democrat representative present at all times ballots are handled, in the double-locked restricted area where one lock must be opened by the designated Democrat holding the correct key, and the other lock opened with the key from the corresponding Republican.
In a separate, caged, lockable part of the room that holds a high-speed scanner, mail-in ballots are handled. Meanwhile, the Republican and Democratic counterparts have a computer that is never connected to the internet ... the list of precautions -- and those who make sure they are properly implemented -- goes on and on.
Don't forget the security process starts with the men and women who were willing to serve as poll workers. They, too, take their responsibility very seriously.
No matter for what outcome you are hoping as the results are tallied tomorrow evening, local residents can be confident the numbers reported accurately represent the votes cast. Secure elections in which we can have faith the will of the voters is being meticulously conveyed at every level are the foundation of our democratic republic.
Given the steps being taken here in Washington County, we can be confident that's exactly what we'll get.