Virginia elections commissioner assures secure ballots and updates on midterms

Virginia's Commissioner of Elections, Steve Koski, assured voters that ballots cast in the state are secure and will be counted, according to NBC12. Koski emphasized that the ballot scanning machines are not connected to the internet and that strict chain of custody and testing requirements are in place for voting equipment.

Early voting is already underway in Virginia, with more than 770,000 ballots cast this year compared to 471,000 at the same time in 2022, NBC12 reported. Koski noted the high level of interest in this election and encouraged voter patience due to the long ballots being processed.

Koski also addressed concerns about voter roll maintenance, explaining that the department receives monthly data to help localities keep voter rolls up to date. This comes amid an investigation into rights restoration letters sent to some deceased individuals, which the governor attributed to a system issue.

On election night, local precincts will report results to the general registrar and then to the state, with Koski asking for patience as localities process the extensive ballots. Early voting continues through the weekend and on Halloween Saturday before Election Day.

Voters in the Richmond area and across Virginia can participate in early voting and expect secure handling of their ballots, as outlined by the state's election commissioner.