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Spanish-language video details ballot security, tabulation and post-election audits
Summary
A Spanish-language informational video outlines physical and procedural safeguards at the local election center — including a locked vault, two-person processing, an air-gapped tabulation system, continuous camera surveillance, signature review, and both manual and risk-limiting audits to verify results.
A presenter in a Spanish-language informational video described the physical and procedural measures used to secure ballots and verify election results at the local election center on 311 Grand in Bellingham.
The presenter said the processing room operates like a vault and “siempre está bajo llave” when not in use; entry requires an electronic keycard system and two authorized office keycards. Staff and outside vendors are supervised while in the room, and ballots are stored in a secure area when not being processed. “Nuestro sistema de tabulación no está conectado al internet. Es una instalación aislada por aire,” the presenter said, noting that the tabulation equipment is air-gapped from networks.
The video emphasized staff and process controls meant to maintain a clear chain of custody. Ballots are handled by two employees at all times and staff use only green pens when processing. Each ballot is tracked with an identification number and an explicit status — sent, received, accepted, rejected or suspended — and if a voter is issued more than one ballot the earlier ones are suspended. The presenter described signature checks as the method to determine whether a ballot is accepted and said voters are notified if signatures do not match so they can correct the issue.
The presenter described two post-election verification steps. First, a manual count of randomly selected batches is compared against the tabulation system. Second, a risk-limiting audit using established statistical methods is conducted to verify the results; total received ballots are reconciled with accepted and rejected ballots as part of that process. The presenter said the accuracy test of tabulation equipment is open to the public before each election and that election administrators are certified by the state of Washington. “La reconciliación total es otro control para asegurarse que el número de boletas aceptadas coincide con el número de boletas que fueron contadas,” the presenter said.
The video notes that a Board of Scrutiny (la junta de escrutinio) reviews all previously rejected ballots before certification. The presenter identified the board as composed of the county prosecutor, the county council chair and the county auditor or their designees; the board meets in a public session to decide on rejected ballots and then certifies final election results. The presenter urged viewers to learn more and to observe the process in person or online.
No motions or votes are recorded in the video itself; it is an informational presentation about procedures and safeguards. The video names the election center location and several operational controls; it does not supply statute citations or specific program names beyond general reference to the state of Washington's voter-intent guidance.
