News Flash

How North Carolina Secures Elections for Voters_

Voting Machines

All voting systems used in North Carolina are approved by the federal government and State Board of Elections (NCSBE) after undergoing mandatory testing by certified laboratories. All systems are used in other states. Under state law, voting equipment may not be connected to the internet or use wireless access, limiting the possibility of outside interference.

Pre-election Testing

Before each election, every county board of elections conducts public “logic and accuracy” (L&A) tests of all voting and tabulation equipment to ensure votes will be counted correctly. Each contest and contest position is tested on every voting machine, along with machine functionality and accessibility features. The entire system is tested through a mock election to ensure proper tabulation, vote aggregation and reporting of results.

Election Day Security

Every polling place is staffed with trained officials from your community who take an oath to uphold state elections laws and work together to ensure election security. Representatives of political parties also monitor election activities. Election officials follow chain-of-custody procedures and use tamper-evident seals and/or other physical access controls designed to ensure the security of your ballot and the voting equipment at your polling place.

Post-Election Audits

The State and County Boards of Elections conduct a series of audits after every election to detect possible issues such as ballot stuffing, equipment tampering and voting machine or tabulation errors. After each election, for example, every CBE conducts a hand-eye count of all ballots in at least two precincts. That count is compared to tabulated results.

Investigations

NCSBE has a dedicated division that investigates reported violations of election laws and refers cases to prosecutors when warranted by evidence.

Our Security Partners

NCSBE works with many state and federal partners to protect your vote. Services provided by our partners include routine vulnerability scans of state elections systems, physical security assessments of County and State Board offices, training exercises, Election Day support and incident response and the sharing of information about elections and cybersecurity. NCSBE and most CBEs are active participants in the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC), which monitors election systems for the entire nation and provides valuable information to its members.

Our partners include: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, N.C. National Guard, N.C. Department of Public Safety, N.C. Department of Information Technology and Woodstar Labs.

How Can You Help?

• Please vote and encourage eligible friends and family members to vote.
• Review your ballot before casting it.
• Be mindful that information about elections that you can find and share on social media may not be accurate. NCSBE and your CBE are the best sources for accurate information.