8 Actions Voting Precincts and Leaders Are Taking to Preserve Election Integrity

1. Voter Identification

There’s been an increase in states requiring voters to show an ID before voting. Usually, a driver’s license, state-issued ID, a passport, or a voter’s registration card are acceptable. In some cases, a birth certificate and/or social security card may be required. Voters need to check with their state for details regarding voter identification, according to USA.gov. Many states have enacted new voter laws that are more restrictive this election year to step up their efforts to prevent voter fraud, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Some new laws have also been put in place to help prevent election interference.  

If a voter doesn’t have any of the ID forms mentioned above, some states have a form that can be filled out and signed. Most states will provide a voter with a provisional ballot if there is a question about his or her identification, but these are usually still counted as a vote. 

There are intense efforts going on this election year to watch for and flag voter registrations to ensure that only American citizens are voting. One state in particular that made the news for a significant number of registrations it had to cancel is Virginia. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of canceling the registrations because Virginia allegedly had over 1600 voter registrations by noncitizens, according to The Hill. 

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2. Results Reported after Polls Close

Voting precincts won’t report the results of voting until after the voting location is closed, according to eac.gov. Any results of a precinct that the media announces on election night are considered unofficial until the votes are actually certified.

An organization called Election Integrity Network trains volunteers to be Poll Watchers and observe the voting process in precincts for the sake of election integrity. The organization provides training and is bipartisan. Attorney Cleta Mitchell chairs the Election Integrity Network and is involved with several other conservative organizations, according to the website.   

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3. Canvass Process

This process includes the gathering of all votes, including mail-in ballots, military ballots, overseas citizens, early voting, provisional ballots, and election-day votes. All these votes are reconciled to make certain that every vote is counted and that the counting is accurate.

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4. Post-election Audit

The post-election audit ensures that all voting equipment was working properly and that all votes were counted. The timing of the audit and the method vary from state to state. Many precincts that have electronic voting have added a prompt that pops up and suggests that voters double-check their ballots before finally casting them. 

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5. Certification

An official written statement is issued by state election officials stating that the results of the count and the audit are true and accurate. The certification timeline varies from state to state, but for most states, it takes place before the end of November. Some states go into the first week of December. If a recount is requested, this can impact the timeline. After votes are certified, they are generally sent to the governor to be signed, who then passes the slate of electors along to the Electoral College.

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6. Recounts

In a nutshell, the recount process varies from state to state. In general, a candidate for office can request a recount, a voter who voted may request a recount, or a recount may automatically take place if a race is tight and the results fall within the potential margin of error. A judge can also issue a recount.

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7. Swing States and Potential Recounts

Seven swing states have great potential to impact the 2024 presidential elections. Those states include Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, and Arizona. In these states, in particular, just a few thousand votes could make the difference. According to Northeastern Global News, this could also mean that recounts could go on for weeks and that legal challenges may take place.

“It’s just not possible to anticipate in advance all of the variety of things that could go wrong and delay an outcome [resulting from election day],” Jeremy R. Paul, a former dean of Northeastern University School, told Northeastern Global News. 

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8. Prayer

It’s been said a lot this election year that Christians really do need to be in prayer for our nation, but it can’t be said too much. Praying about the election process is one of the most empowering things Christians can do. A few suggestions from Revive Our Hearts ministries in connection to praying for election integrity include:

• Praying for a safe and fair election. 
• Pray for the removal of those who would use unjust, illegal, and wicked means to change the outcome of the election. 
• Pray that the Holy Spirit would move on Christians to vote with discernment and wisdom.
• Pray for God’s protection of all voters and volunteers.

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