During a recent government meeting, concerns regarding election transparency and security were at the forefront as residents of Washington County voiced their demands for increased oversight of the electoral process.

One resident emphasized the need for full access to election observation, requesting that observers be allowed to be present in critical areas such as ballot scanning, tabulation, and signature verification. This call for transparency comes as the county prepares for upcoming elections, with reports indicating that overseas ballots have already begun to arrive. The resident insisted on the importance of real-time observation to ensure the integrity of the election process, highlighting a perceived decline in citizen oversight compared to previous elections.

Roger Law, another resident, raised alarms about the county's election tabulation system, questioning its security. He referenced a contract that included laptops with wireless capabilities, suggesting that the system may not be as secure as claimed by election officials. Law cited a report from the Oregon Attorney General, which warned that systems not directly connected to the internet could still be vulnerable to attacks through physical access.

Jill Brandt further elaborated on the need for stringent chain of custody procedures, which are essential for maintaining the integrity of election materials. She pointed out that the state of Oregon lacks formal requirements for such procedures, raising concerns about the potential for tampering and fraud. Brandt called for the election office to provide documentation of their chain of custody processes and daily ballot counts to bolster public trust.

The meeting also featured testimony from Jill Latray, who recounted her experiences observing logic and accuracy tests for voting machines. She raised concerns about discrepancies in test results, which could have significant implications for actual election outcomes. Latray noted that even minor errors during testing could lead to substantial differences in vote counts, particularly in closely contested elections.

As the meeting concluded, the commissioners were urged to consider these issues seriously, with residents advocating for reforms to ensure a transparent and secure electoral process. The discussions reflect a growing demand for accountability and oversight in the face of evolving challenges in election security.