Commitment to Election Integrity

Entry to the Registrar of Voters Central Ballot Processing Operation

Sheriff's deputies, security guards, metal detector and card key access keep ballots secure at OCROV

Sheriff's Sergeant or Deputy Stationed In OCROV Command Center

Sheriff's sergeant stationed at OCROV to ensure quick law enforcement response to disruptions at voting locations

Use of Sheriff's Deputies at Ballot Collection Centers

Sheriff's deputies provide security at ballot collection centers to ensure secure return of Vote Center ballots

Chain of Custody Seals on Voting Equipment After Testing

Tamper-evident chain of custody seals are applied to all voting equipment immediately after testing to detect any unauthorized access.

Numbered Security Seals on Voting System Equipment

Numbered security seals cover every opening on each piece of voting system equipment to prevent and detect tampering.

Card Key Access Required in Ballot Handling Areas

Areas where live ballots are handled and votes are tallied are secured with card key access limited to authorized OCROV employees.

Secure Construction and Placement of Ballot Drop Boxes

Ballot drop boxes are constructed of thick metal, bolted to concrete in high-visibility public areas, and individually keyed to prevent tampering.

Bomb Threat and Building Sweep Procedures

OCROV maintains documented procedures for responding to bomb threats, including building sweeps when necessary to ensure the safety of staff, voters, and ballots.

Around-the-Clock Law Enforcement During Critical Periods

Uniformed law enforcement officers are present 24 hours a day, seven days a week during critical election periods to protect voting operations.

Secure Access Controls at OCROV Facilities

Card readers, locks, and alarms restrict access to OCROV facilities and sensitive areas to authorized personnel only.

Visitor Monitoring and Escort Protocols

All visitors to OCROV facilities are monitored and escorted by staff to prevent unauthorized access to secure areas.

Secure Transport of Vote Center Supplies Using PODS

OCROV uses secure PODS containers to transport Vote Center supplies and equipment.

Ballot Privacy Sleeves for Voters

Voters are provided with ballot privacy sleeves to ensure their selections remain confidential while moving through Vote Centers.

Preservation of Ballots and Ballot Envelopes

Ballots and ballot envelopes from each election are preserved in accordance with legal retention requirements to support audits and legal proceedings.

Secure Storage of Collected Ballots at OCROV

Ballots are placed in a secure storage location at OCROV immediately after chain of custody seals are confirmed upon collection team return.

Randomized Routes for Ballot Collection Teams

Ballot collection teams are assigned randomized daily routes to reduce predictability and improve the security of ballot transport.

Vote Center List Provided to SCE for PSPS Planning

OCROV provides its list of Vote Center locations to Southern California Edison contacts so voting locations can be protected from Public Safety Power Shutoff events.

Voting Location List Provided to Local Law Enforcement

OCROV provides a complete list of all voting locations to local law enforcement agencies before each election to support situational awareness and security planning.

Seal Verification on Voting System Computers

Security seals on all voting system computers are inspected and confirmed before equipment is deployed for use in an election.

Secure Delivery of Electronic Poll Books

Electronic poll books are delivered to Vote Centers using secure procedures to prevent tampering before deployment.

Testing of Backup Power Generators

Backup power generators are regularly tested to confirm they will function properly in the event of a power outage during election operations.

Backup Power Generators at OCROV

OCROV maintains backup power generators to ensure uninterrupted election operations in the event of a power outage.

Security Camera Coverage at OCROV Facilities

Security cameras are installed throughout OCROV facilities to monitor and record activity in ballot processing, storage, and other secure areas around the clock.

Secure Delivery of Voting System Software by Secretary of State

Voting system software is hand-delivered by Secretary of State staff directly to OCROV to ensure the integrity of the software prior to each election.

Loading of System Image Before Each Election

A certified system image of the voting system software is loaded onto all voting system equipment before each election to ensure software integrity.

Archiving of Electronic Election Data

Electronic election data from the voting system and other OCROV systems is archived after each election for record-keeping and audit purposes.

Pre-Election Software Verification

OCROV confirms that voting system software has not been modified before each election to ensure the system operates as certified.

Post-Election Software Verification

OCROV confirms that voting system software has not been modified after each election to detect any unauthorized changes.

Protection of Voter Personally Identifiable Information

OCROV follows strict data security policies to protect the personally identifiable information of registered voters from unauthorized access or disclosure.

Cybersecurity Planning and Security Playbooks

OCROV maintains cybersecurity plans and detailed security playbooks and conducts regular cyber incident response exercises to prepare staff for potential threats.

Reformatting of Memory Cards on Voting Devices Before Each Election

Memory card devices used in the voting system are reformatted before each election to ensure a clean starting state.

Ballot Tracking Service for Voters

OC Ballot Express provides voters the ability to track the status of their Vote-By-Mail ballot from mailing through acceptance.

Voting System Equipment Kept Off All Networks

All voting system equipment is kept entirely offline and is not connected to the internet or any other external network, eliminating remote access risks.

Dual-Factor Authentication for Critical Voting System Operations

Critical voting system operations require both a password created by the Registrar of Voters for each election and a physical key that is updated with every new election database.

Encrypted Transmission of Voter Participation Data

Voter participation data transmitted between poll books and OCROV is encrypted both in transit and at rest to protect data integrity and confidentiality.

Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems for OCROV Networks

Intrusion detection and prevention systems are deployed across OCROV's network infrastructure to identify and block unauthorized access attempts.

Use of State-Certified Voting Systems

OCROV uses only voting systems that have been tested and certified by the California Secretary of State, ensuring all equipment meets State security and accuracy standards.

Threat Intelligence Monitoring Services

OCROV subscribes to threat intelligence monitoring services to receive early warning of cybersecurity threats targeting election infrastructure.

Disaster Recovery Plan

OCROV maintains a documented disaster recovery plan to ensure election operations can continue or be quickly restored following a major disruption.

Security Controls for Remote Accessible Vote-By-Mail Ballots

OCROV implements specific security controls for the Remote Accessible Vote-By-Mail system to protect the integrity of ballots cast by voters using this system.

Ballot Tint and Watermark Security Features

Each ballot includes a distinctive tint and watermark that allow OCROV staff to quickly identify ballots printed at the OCROV.

Creation and Proofing of Election Database

A new election database is carefully created and proofed before each election to ensure accuracy of all ballot styles and voter assignments.

Referral of Suspicious Activity and Fraud to OCDA and SOS

Suspicious activity and reports of potential election fraud are referred to the Orange County District Attorney and California Secretary of State for investigation.

Pre-Election Logic and Accuracy Test

Test ballots are run through every ballot scanner used in the election before Vote Centers open to confirm each scanner is accurately counting votes.

Post-Election Logic and Accuracy Test

Test ballots are run through every ballot scanner used in the election after Election Day to confirm each scanner counted votes accurately throughout the election.

Paper Ballots Cast by Every Voter

Every voter casts a paper ballot, creating a physical record that can be used to verify and audit the accuracy of the voting system.

One Percent Manual Tally — Precinct Selection

Ballots from at least one percent of randomly selected precincts are hand counted to confirm the accuracy of election results across every contest on the ballot.

One Percent Manual Tally — Hand Count Boards

Audited ballots are manually tallied by four-person boards to ensure votes are called and recorded correctly during the audit.

Risk-Limiting Audit

A risk-limiting audit is conducted after major elections to provide statistical confirmation that the reported election results are correct.

Daily Inspection and Logging of Equipment Security Seals at Vote Centers

Equipment security seals are checked and logged by employees every day to prevent and detect any tampering with voting equipment.

Daily Ballot Sheet Count at Vote Centers

Vote Center staff record the number of ballot sheets in each precinct tabulator every morning and evening to detect any discrepancies.

GPS and Chain of Custody Tracking for Ballot Collection Teams

Ballot collection teams are tracked using GPS and radio communication, and photo evidence and chain of custody forms are completed for every ballot pickup.

Verification of Ballot Bag Seals Upon Return to OCROV

When ballot collection teams return to OCROV, the seals on all ballot bags are verified to confirm the bags were not opened in transit before the ballots are accepted.

Annual ISO 9001 Quality Management Audit

OCROV's quality management program is audited annually to maintain its international ISO 9001 certification and ensure continuous improvement.

Academic Collaboration to Improve Election Operations

OCROV has collaborated with Caltech, Duke University, and other academic institutions to evaluate and improve operational processes, including voter file maintenance.

Multilayer Proofing of Ballots and Election Materials

Ballots, Voter Information Guides, and other critical election materials go through multiple rounds of proofing to catch errors before distribution.

Signature Verification on All Vote-By-Mail Return Envelopes

The signature on every Vote-By-Mail return envelope is compared to the voter's registration record to verify the ballot was cast by the registered voter.

Partnerships with State and Local Law Enforcement

OCROV partners with law enforcement agencies and the District Attorney to coordinate election security and provide training in situational awareness and de-escalation.

Quality Checks During Ballot Printing and Insertion

Multiple quality checks are performed during the printing and insertion of ballots to ensure every ballot packet is accurate and complete before mailing.

Mail Sorter Verification to Prevent Duplicate Ballot Mailings

All ballot packets are fed through a mail sorter to confirm that each voter receives only one ballot.

Audit Checks of Central Scan Batches

Each batch of centrally scanned ballots is audited to verify accurate processing and detect any discrepancies before results are finalized.

Inspection of Vote-By-Mail Ballots for Damage or Mismarks

Vote-By-Mail ballots are inspected for physical damage or marks that could affect scanning accuracy, and damaged ballots are duplicated according to established procedures.

Check of Extractors for Retained Ballots

Ballot extraction equipment is checked after each use to ensure no ballots remain inside the machine.

Check of Extracted Envelopes for Retained Ballots

Extracted envelopes are checked after processing to confirm no ballots remain inside before the envelopes are securely stored.

Adjudication of Central Scan Ballots

Central scan ballots that cannot be read automatically are reviewed by trained staff applying uniform vote-counting standards to ensure every vote is counted correctly.

Nightly Return of Voted Vote Center Ballots to OCROV

Voted ballots from Vote Centers are transported back to OCROV each night under chain of custody procedures to maintain security.

Ballot Bag Content Sorting

Ballot bags are sorted by content category upon receipt at OCROV to ensure accurate tracking and processing of all returned ballots.

Segregation of Ballots by Return Source

Collected ballots are kept together by return source — Vote Center, ballot drop box, or USPS — to support chain of custody tracking and auditing.

Chain of Custody Procedures for USB Drives

Secure chain of custody steps are followed for all USB drives used in the voting system to prevent unauthorized access or tampering with election data.

Three-Tier Signature Comparison Process

Vote-By-Mail ballot signatures go through a three-tier review process, with increasingly experienced staff reviewing any signature that does not pass the initial comparison.

Cure Notification Process for Ballot Issues

Voters whose Vote-By-Mail ballots have a signature issue or who haven't verified their identity are promptly notified and given the opportunity to cure the issue so their vote can be counted.

Cure Statement Signature Verification

Signatures submitted on cure statements are verified against the voter's registration record before the ballot is accepted and counted.

Regular Publication of Results and Processing Reports

Results reports and ballot processing status reports are updated at least every weekday and transmitted to the Secretary of State and posted on the OCROV website.

Timely Publication of Election Results

OCROV publishes approximately 95 percent of ballot results within four to nine days after Election Day.

Early Vote-By-Mail Ballots Included in First Results Report

Between 89 and 96 percent of accepted early Vote-By-Mail ballots are included in the first results report in statewide elections.

Duplication Auditing Check

Every duplicated ballot is audited against the original to confirm the duplication was performed accurately before the ballot is scanned.

Canvass Reconciliation Review

A thorough reconciliation of all ballot counts, tallies, and records is completed during the official canvass to ensure the accuracy of final election results.

Multiple Secure Ballot Return Options

Voters may return their ballots through multiple secure options, including the U.S. Mail, official ballot drop boxes, and Vote Centers, giving voters flexibility while maintaining security.

Incident Tracking System

All incidents are logged in a ticket system that records what occurred and how it was resolved, enabling ongoing review and improvement of response procedures.

Jurisdictional Boundary Verification with Cities and Districts

OCROV contacts cities and districts before each election to verify jurisdictional boundaries and ensure ballots reflect accurate contest assignments.

Ballot Contest Verification with Cities and Districts

OCROV contacts cities and districts to confirm which contests should appear on the ballot before ballot programming begins.

Advance Planning with USPS for Ballot Mailings

OCROV works with the U.S. Postal Service in advance of each election to coordinate the proper and timely mailing of ballots and other election materials.

Public Review Periods for Candidate and Measure Documents

Public review periods are provided for candidate qualification statements and local measure documents, allowing candidates and the public to verify accuracy before printing.

Precinct Proofing Check Against Ballot Type

Each precinct assignment is proofed against the corresponding ballot type to confirm voters receive the correct ballot for their address.

Zero Tape Printing and Signing at Vote Center Opening

Zero tapes are printed and signed by Vote Center staff or voters on the first day each Vote Center opens to confirm that all ballot counters begin at zero.

Monitoring of Ballot Envelope Extraction

OCROV staff monitor mail extraction equipment during the opening of ballot envelopes to ensure ballots are not damaged or sliced in the process.

Complete Official Canvass to Count all Ballots

A thorough official canvass is conducted after each election to account for all ballots cast and certify the accuracy of the results.

Post-Canvass Inspection of OCROV for Remaining Ballots

All areas of the OCROV facility are inspected for any remaining ballots once the canvass is complete to ensure every ballot has been processed.

Certification of Election Results

The Registrar of Voters officially certifies election results following the completion of the canvass, as required by California law.

Public Election Observation Opportunities

Large monitors at observation stations allow members of the public to clearly view ballot processing activities, including ballot duplication, in real time.

Livestream of Ballot Processing and Vote Tally

OCROV livestreams ballot processing operations and the vote tally so that any member of the public can observe election activities remotely.

Nightly Tracking of Ballot Bags, Teams, and Collection Centers

Ballot bags, collection teams, and collection center activity are tracked and logged each night to maintain a complete chain of custody record.

Livestreamed Random Draw for Audit Selections

OCROV livestreams the random drawing used to select precincts for the One Percent manual Tally audit and the seed number for the risk-limiting audit, ensuring full public transparency.

Functional Testing of Extractors with Ballots

Ballot extraction equipment is tested with actual ballot envelopes to confirm proper operation before full-scale processing begins.

Detection of Excess Ballots During Extraction

OCROV staff extracting ballots set aside envelopes containing more than one ballot for additional review to prevent double voting.

Teams of Two Used for Ballot Pickup

Ballots are always collected and transported by two-person teams

Support From OC District Attorney

District Attorney investigators assigned to respond to election law violations at voting locations

Conduct Criminal Background Check of All Employees

All permanent and temporary OCROV employees must pass a criminal background check

Extensive Training Provided to All Employees

All permanent and temporary OCROV employees must complete extensive security training

Central Monitoring at Command Center

OCROV Command Center staff monitor connectivity of electronic poll books when Vote Centers are open

Command Center and Dispatch

OCROV Vote Center Help Desk assists Vote Center staff, providing help by phone or by dispatching field staff to site

Rapid Deployment Teams

OCROV Rapid Deployment Teams stationed throughout the county quickly address Vote Center equipment and supply needs

Teams of Two Close Ballot Drop Boxes

Each ballot drop box is securely locked when polls close on Election Night by two-person teams of County employees

Voter Assistance Phone Bank

OCROV staff are available by phone to assist voters with questions about registration, ballots, and voting locations

Onsite Technical Support from Vendors and Contractors

Qualified vendors, electricians, and HVAC technicians provide onsite support to ensure Registrar of Voters' offices and Vote Centers remain operational throughout the election.

Vote Center Supervisor Oversight

Each Vote Center Supervisor oversees four to five Vote Centers to ensure consistent and secure operations.

Electioneering Restriction Signage at Voting Locations

Signage at all voting locations clearly marks the boundaries where electioneering is prohibited, protecting voters from undue influence.

Public Communication Toolkits and FAQs

OCROV prepares public communication toolkits and frequently asked questions to provide voters and the public with clear, accurate information about election security.

Proactive Voter Education to Counter Misinformation

OCROV conducts proactive multilingual voter education outreach to counter misinformation and ensure all voters have access to accurate information about elections.

Public Notice of Key Observable Election Activities

OCROV publishes advance public notices of key election activities that members of the public and observers may attend and watch.

Pocket Election Law Guides for Law Enforcement

OCROV provides local law enforcement with pocket-sized election law guides to ensure officers can respond accurately to election law questions at voting locations.

Felony Warning Posted in Each Voting Booth

A warning about the felony consequences of voter fraud is posted in every voting booth as a deterrent to election law violations.

Removal of Governing Body Photos at Polling Locations

OCROV requests that cities and districts remove or cover photographs of their governing body members who are candidates on the current ballot to prevent undue influence at voting locations.

Cell Phones Provided to All Vote Center and Field Staff

Every Vote Center and field staff team is issued a cell phone to maintain reliable communication with OCROV throughout the election.

800 MHz Radios Provided to Field Staff

Field staff are equipped with 800 MHz radios to ensure secure and reliable communication across the county during ballot collection and other field operations.

Manual Identity and Residency Match of Registrant Information

OCROV staff manually review registration information for applicants who could not be matched automatically with high confidence by the Statewide Database.

Identity and Residency Verification for First-Time Federal Voters

OCROV verifies the identity and residency of first-time federal voters using HAVA-allowable identification presented in person or submitted with a mail ballot or cure statement.

Citizenship Attestation Confirmation for All Registrants

OCROV confirms that all voters have attested to being U.S. citizens as required by law.

Timely Voter Registration Updates

Voter registrations are updated within five business days whenever OCROV is notified of a change by the voter or an official government source.

Voter Notification Cards for Registration Updates

A notification card is mailed to every voter each time their registration is updated, allowing voters to confirm or correct their information.

Registration Inactivation Due to Undeliverable Mail

Voter registrations are inactivated when election mail is returned undeliverable with no forwarding address or a forwarding address outside California.

Inactive Voter Notification

OCROV sends an official notice to inactive voters to give them an opportunity to confirm or update their registration before cancellation.

Cancellation of Inactive Voter Registrations

Inactive voter registrations are cancelled after the second statewide general election following the mailing of a notice, in accordance with federal and state law.

Transfer of Voters Who Have Moved to Another California County

When undeliverable election mail is labeled with a forwarding address in another California county, OCROV transfers the voter's registration to that county.

Duplicate Voter Registration Identification

OCROV identifies and resolves duplicate voter registration records to ensure each eligible voter has only one active registration.

Third-Party Data Comparison to Identify Voter Registration Changes

Voter registration information is regularly compared against third-party data sources to identify voters whose information may need to be updated.

Outreach to Encourage Voters to Update Their Registration

OCROV actively encourages voters to re-register whenever their information changes to keep the voter rolls accurate and current.

Signature Comparison Flagging for Vote-By-Mail Ballots

Vote-By-Mail ballots are flagged for additional review when the signature on the return envelope does not compare to the voter's registration record or shows signs of change.

Outreach to Encourage Voters to Update Their Signature

Voters are encouraged to re-register to update their signature on file so that future ballot signature comparisons remain accurate.

Accepted VBM Envelope Signatures Uploaded to Voter Records

Signatures accepted on Vote-By-Mail return envelopes are uploaded to the voter's registration record to improve the accuracy of future signature comparisons.

Accepted Cure Statement Signatures Uploaded to Voter Records

Signatures accepted on cure statements are uploaded to the voter's registration record to improve the accuracy of future signature comparisons.

Third-Party Data Comparison to Identify Possible Voter Deaths

Voter registration data is compared against third-party sources to identify registrants who may have died, so those records can be removed from the rolls.

Review of High-Occupancy Addresses

Addresses with ten or more registered voters are reviewed to confirm the location is a facility capable of housing that many residents.

Review of Registrations with Missing or Invalid Addresses

OCROV reviews registrations that are pending due to a missing or unverifiable residential address to resolve them accurately.

Activation of Young Voters Turning 18 by Election Day

Pre-registered voters who will turn 18 on or before Election Day are automatically activated so they are eligible to vote in that election.

Validation of Overseas and Military Voter Addresses in EIMS

OCROV validates that all overseas and military voter addresses are correctly entered in the Election Information Management System before ballots are mailed.

Validation of University Campus Residence Addresses

Residence addresses for voters registered at university campuses are validated to ensure ballot styles and polling place assignments are accurate.

Automated Identity and Residency Match of Registrant Information

VoteCal automatically compares and matches registrant information against state databases to verify the identity and residency of voters at a high confidence level.

Online Registration Blocked Without Citizenship Attestation

Online voter registration is blocked for any applicant who does not attest to being a U.S. citizen.

Electronic Voter Check-In with Near Real-Time Poll Book Updates

Voters are checked in electronically on poll books that share participation data with OCROV in near real time, preventing a voter from checking in at more than one location or returning multiple ballots.