(PatriotNews.net) – Virginia’s Republican Governor, Glenn Youngkin, has taken new steps to secure the state’s elections through a recent executive order. This order, issued on Wednesday, aims to ensure that only legal votes are counted by implementing strict measures to prevent fraud and maintain voter integrity.
The executive order, known as Executive Order 35, outlines several key regulations designed to protect the voting process. These include using 100% paper ballots, ensuring that all ballots have a strict chain of custody, and banning the mass mailing of ballots. Additionally, there is now 24/7 monitoring of all drop boxes, and Virginia will use machines that only count ballots, with a strict rule against connecting them to the internet.
A major focus of the order is cleaning up the voter rolls to remove ineligible voters. In 2023 alone, Virginia removed nearly 80,000 deceased voters from its voter lists. Furthermore, over 6,000 noncitizens who had either accidentally or purposely registered to vote were also removed. This effort is part of a broader push to ensure that only eligible citizens are allowed to vote.
Virginia’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) plays a key role in this process by verifying the legal status of individuals before issuing driver’s licenses or other identification. The DMV checks databases from the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. Additionally, Virginia is one of just three states that require citizens to provide their full Social Security number when registering to vote.
Another layer of security involves mail-in ballots. In Virginia, these ballots cannot be counted unless the voter’s information, including the last four digits of their Social Security number and date of birth, matches what’s in the state’s voter registration system. This reduces the chance of illegal votes slipping through.
Governor Youngkin has expressed pride in these measures, stating that they ensure fairness and accuracy in Virginia’s elections. He emphasized that this isn’t about party politics but about protecting the integrity of every legal vote.
Former President Donald Trump also praised Youngkin’s efforts, urging other states to follow Virginia’s example to ensure fair and secure elections across the country.
