FAQ

Election officials across the state work together to achieve the same goal: To ensure the safety and
security of all voters and the election process.

10 Facts About Election Security in North Carolina

1. No Evidence of Successful Attack: No election system or voting system in the state has
ever been the target of a successful cyberattack.
2. Paper Ballots: Under state law, all 100 counties use paper ballots, producing a paper trail
which can be easily audited or recounted. By federal law, ballot marking devices must be
available at every polling place for any voter who needs or wishes to use one to mark a
ballot.
3. Voter Photo ID: All voters are asked to show photo ID when they check in to vote. This
verifies that the person wishing to vote is the registered voter on the registration rolls.
4. Partnerships: Elections officials are in regular contact and have strong and growing
relationships with partners in federal and state governments, who assist with cyber and
physical security, share information, plan for election events and respond to incidents.
5. No Internet or Modems: By state law, voting machines may not be connected to the
internet, limiting the possibility of cyber interference. No voting machine in North Carolina
contains a modem or modem chip.
6. Bipartisan, Trained Officials: Every polling place is staffed with bipartisan, trained officials
from the local community who take an oath to uphold state elections laws and work together
to ensure election security. Bipartisan State and County Boards of Elections oversee all
aspects of elections. Bipartisan election observers also witness the voting process.
7. Voting Equipment Testing: Before every election, county boards of elections conduct logic
and accuracy tests on every voting machine that will be used in the election to ensure
proper coding of ballots and counting of votes for every contest on the ballot.

8. Investigations Division: North Carolina is one of few states with a dedicated Investigations
Division, which is staffed by experienced professionals who investigate reports of fraud and
other irregularities and refers cases to prosecutors when warranted by evidence.
9. Post-Election Audits: After every election and before results are certified, the State and
County Boards of Elections conduct multiple checks designed to detect irregularities, such
as equipment tampering, ballot stuffing, and voting machine or tabulation errors. In the
sample hand-count audit, for example, two voting sites are selected at random in every
county, counted by hand by bipartisan teams, and compared with the machine-counted
results. This audit helps confirm the accuracy of voting equipment.
10. Certified Voting Systems: All voting systems used in North Carolina are certified by the
State Board of Elections after extensive testing and public demonstrations, and must be
approved by county officials before purchase. Voting systems used in North Carolina meet
all applicable federal regulations governing voting systems and are certified, used, and
audited in other states.