Election officials explain security measures at Medina County forum

MEDINA — As Ohio voters head to the polls for the November election, Medina County election officials and voting advocates offered residents a look Tuesday at how ballots are protected and voters are verified. The Medina County chapter of the League of Women Voters hosted an election security forum featuring Nicole Mickley, director of the Medina County Board of Elections, and Jen Miller, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio. Kara Chiuchiarelli, chair of the Medina County League of Women Voters, opened the forum, which focused on election security, voting procedures and ways voters can avoid problems when casting a ballot. Mickley said the Board of Elections oversees local, state and federal elections in Medina County, including maintaining voter registration records, preparing ballots, tabulating votes and reporting results. One primary safeguard discussed was Ohio's bipartisan election system. Voting machines in Medina County are not connected to the internet, Mickley said. When they are not being used, they are stored behind double-locked doors. Before each election, Republican and Democratic representatives conduct logic and accuracy testing on the machines. The testing is conducted on camera, and officials seal the equipment afterward to help ensure it hasn't been tampered with. Bipartisan teams also transport election equipment, with additional personnel monitoring it during transportation and setup. "We go above and beyond to try to make sure that everything is kept safe and secure and watched over at every point of the process," Mickley said. Miller said election security also begins before equipment reaches local boards of elections. Voting equipment vendors must receive federal and state certification before their systems can be used in Ohio. Voter registration is subject to additional checks. Ohio's statewide voter registration system compares information with records from other government agencies. When information does not match, election officials can contact voters or request additional documentation. For voters, Miller emphasized the importance of having proper identification and up-to-date registration information. Voters who encounter an issue with their registration, identification or eligibility may be asked to cast a provisional ballot. Miller said provisional ballots are designed to give election officials an opportunity to resolve those questions rather than immediately disqualifying a voter's ballot. She encouraged voters who receive a provisional ballot to follow election officials' instructions and submit any required documentation by the deadline. The forum also addressed absentee voting. Mickley said election officials review absentee ballot applications before issuing ballots. Returned ballots go through multiple steps involving bipartisan teams, and officials separate identifying information from the ballot before counting. Miller encouraged absentee voters to request and return their ballots early, track their ballot status and provide current contact information to the Board of Elections in case officials need to resolve an issue. She also discussed the security measures around ballot drop boxes, which bipartisan teams monitor and empty. Security measures continue after ballots are cast. Mickley said bipartisan teams secure ballots and election equipment at polling locations before transporting them back to the Board of Elections. Results are not released before polls close at 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. Ohio also conducts postelection audits. Miller said the paper record associated with every ballot allows officials to compare a sample of paper ballots with digital election records. If an inconsistency is found, officials can expand the audit. The speakers also discussed the people who administer elections. Medina County poll workers receive training on state election laws, county procedures and voting equipment. The county also participates in the Youth at the Booth program for eligible high school students. Miller said the League of Women Voters works with election officials and voters to answer questions and address misinformation about the voting process. For voters preparing to cast a ballot, the speakers encouraged checking registration information, bringing the required identification when voting in person and returning absentee ballots early. The goal, Miller said, is to have multiple safeguards working together throughout the election process, from voter registration through postelection audits. Contact Brooke Adams at 440-822-8373 or badams@medina-gazette.com.