Inside the Ballot Box: A Virginia Election Officer’s First-Hand Account of Democracy at Work
By Chris Kenedy
As an Election Officer in Virginia during the 2024 Presidential election, I gained firsthand insight into our state’s robust electoral process through service in both early voting and Election Day operations.
Before assuming our duties, all Election Officers completed rigorous training on election laws, voter identification requirements, and accessibility accommodations. This comprehensive preparation ensured we could confidently handle various situations, from assisting voters with disabilities to processing provisional ballots.
The early voting period demonstrated exemplary security protocols and efficient ballot processing. Each evening, a bipartisan courier team—comprising both Democratic and Republican representatives—transported the day’s ballots to a central secure facility, maintaining an unbroken chain of custody.
Our technological infrastructure balanced accessibility with security. Electronic poll books were regularly synchronized using secure connections, while each voting machine produced a digital audit trail, creating redundancy that reinforces the integrity of our results. Virginia’s commitment to accessibility was evident through services like curbside voting, which enabled those who could not stand in line to cast their ballots with dignity and privacy.
Throughout the process, we witnessed democracy in its most authentic form: elderly citizens proudly casting their tenth presidential vote stood alongside young voters, accompanied by parents, exercising their civic duty for the first time. Despite occasional long lines, voters maintained a remarkably peaceful and cooperative spirit. Party affiliations seemed to fade at the polling place doors, with no hostile gestures or partisan recriminations—just citizens united in exercising their fundamental right to vote.
Electoral integrity was further reinforced by the constant presence of Election Observers from both major parties, who diligently monitored compliance with all electoral regulations. Within our precinct, the commitment to nonpartisan service was evident in every interaction, as voters received prompt, equitable, and lawful assistance regardless of their political affiliation.
Our leadership team, deliberately balanced between parties and led by highly qualified Chief and Assistant Chief Officers, expertly guided our precinct in processing thousands of early ballots. This contributed to Virginia’s impressive statewide early voting turnout of over 2.3 million ballots.
After polls closed, we followed a meticulous reconciliation process, ensuring every ballot was accounted for and that the number of ballots matched our voter count perfectly. This attention to detail extended to the careful packaging and documented transfer of all election materials.
Virginia’s Electoral Success
The seamless execution of early voting, coupled with efficient post-election tabulation, says good things about Virginia’s electoral approach. In particular, the unwavering dedication to bipartisan balance, procedural fairness, and transparent vote counting serves as a model for rebuilding public confidence in the democratic process.
It is my hope that this approach will be replicated and improved upon by other states that are still grappling with the difficulties of massive voter turnout. Doing this will help ensure that our elections do not rouse suspicion and mistrust, but instead serve to show the current will of the American people, as they are meant to.
