Election Integrity Requires Verification, Transparency, and Proven Systems

I am a constituent writing with concern about election integrity and public confidence in our voting system as we approach the midterm elections. Ensuring that elections are accurate, verifiable, and trusted is a core constitutional responsibility, not a partisan issue. Under Article I of the Constitution, legislatures are charged with safeguarding the manner of elections. That responsibility includes ensuring that votes are counted as cast, results can be independently verified, and the process is resilient against both interference and error. Public confidence depends on verification, not rhetoric. Election security experts—including federal officials serving under Republican and Democratic administrations alike—agree on two facts at the same time: there is no evidence that recent presidential elections were stolen, and there are documented weaknesses in electronic voting systems and election technology that require stronger safeguards. Software dependence, equipment failure, vendor opacity, and limited auditability all undermine confidence if left unaddressed. The most reliable solution is also the most traditional: paper ballots and voter-verifiable paper records. Paper ballots provide a physical record that cannot be altered remotely and that allows results to be checked independently. When combined with routine post-election audits, they strengthen fraud detection, reduce disputes, and make election outcomes easier for the public to accept—win or lose. I am particularly concerned about continued reliance on private, proprietary voting systems operated by third-party contractors. Elections are a public function. They should not depend on closed software, undisclosed subcontractors, or systems that limit transparency and independent verification. Proven, time-tested voting methods with clear chain-of-custody protections better align with conservative principles of accountability, limited risk, and responsible governance. Restricting participation while leaving verification weaknesses in place does not strengthen elections. Strong verification does. A system that allows every eligible citizen to vote while ensuring that every vote can be verified is the best defense against fraud, interference, and post-election instability. I am asking you to support election policies that: • Require paper ballots or voter-verifiable paper records statewide • Mandate post-election audits as a routine safeguard • Reduce or eliminate reliance on unverifiable, proprietary voting systems • Prioritize transparency, chain-of-custody, and public accountability These measures protect the integrity of elections, reduce litigation and unrest, and uphold the rule of law. They are consistent with conservative principles and with the legislature’s constitutional duty. As a constituent, I will be paying close attention to how you act on these issues. I urge you to prioritize verification, transparency, and proven systems to ensure elections Americans can trust.