Election Security

Yamhill County Elections goes to great lengths to protect the integrity of the election process.  We encourage you to read on to learn more about how we conduct elections, and to rely on Yamhill County Elections as the trusted source for reliable and accurate election and voter registration information.

• As outlined by the Secretary of State's Office, Oregon's Automatic Voter Registration System includes citizenship verification in the state-wide Oregon Centralized Voter Registration system.  Individuals who have provided proof of citizenship when transacting business with the DMV are automatically registered to vote.  The voter registration system includes cross checks for voters who have moved, duplicate records and voters who are deceased.
• A unique identifier is included on each ballot return envelope and only one ballot for each voter can be counted.  Ballot envelopes are received through the mail and from secure ballot drop boxes.  Once they arrive at our office, they are kept together in batches by which drop site location they originated from.  The voter's signature on the ballot return envelope is checked by specifically trained staff and election workers against the voter registration signature on file.  If it doesn't match, the voter is notified, and they have 21 days after the election to provide a matching signature.  A forged signature can carry a penalty of up to five years in prison as a Class C felony.
• Ballot return envelope batches are reviewed and counted before envelopes are opened.  A bipartisan team of election workers (always from different political parties) separate the voted ballots from the return envelopes ensuring the secrecy of the ballot.  This deconstruction process prepares the ballots for scanning into the ballot tally system.  
• The ballot tally system is secured inside an isolated room.  It is a stand-alone system that is not connected to the internet or any other network.  
• Every election, the ballot tally system undergoes a thorough logic and accuracy test consisting of pre-marked ballots.  State law requires the equipment used to record, tabulate, and report votes be tested prior to, and after, every election.  (ORS 246.56(3), 254.235 and 254.485) Logic and accuracy tests are performed on the ballot tally equipment before the election, and after the election prior to certification.  
• Finally, after all ballots are tallied in an election, post-election audits are completed before certifying the election.  Post election hand-counts and audits are not used to certify results.  These are used to verify the ballot tally system equipment was accurate and tallied votes correctly.  
• All ballot processing rooms are secured by a controlled access system and video surveillance 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  All election workers in the ballot processing rooms must wear an identification badge that denotes party affiliation.
• Any visitor to Yamhill County Elections must be escorted by an employee at all times.  

In-Person Observation

We believe voter confidence in elections comes from making the process as transparent as is logistically possible.  Oregon has a proud tradition of open, accessible and fair elections.  Voter fraud is rare but taken very seriously.  We must ensure equipment, sensitive materials, and ballots are safeguarded against any opportunity for mischief.  Authorized individuals may visit the County Clerk's office to observe the receiving and counting of votes, petition signature verification process, or the recount process in the designated observer area via closed circuit cameras.  Under Oregon law observers are not an active participant in the election process, they are a public observer.  To observe the receiving and counting of votes, you must be authorized by an officer or local affiliate of a political party, a candidate, measure organization or the county clerk.  For signature verification of petitions, the county clerk must authorize the observation, and for recounts, the affected candidate (or designee) or measure organization must obtain prior written authorization to observe the process per ORS 258.211.  The authorization must be made in writing, and each observer must sign an observer agreement form and review the observer policy before observation begins.  The county clerk shall permit only so many persons as observers as will not interfere with the process (ORS 254.482).  The designated observer area has limited space, it is important to work with your local authorizing entity for scheduling.  Please contact your local political party to volunteer as an election observer.  Any other observation requests should be directed to the Elections Office by calling 503-434-7518 or by email at elections@yamhillcounty.gov.  Due to space issues, you may be asked to leave the observer area to allow for others to observe.  Any observer who fails to adhere to or sign the Yamhill County Observer Policy and Agreement will be asked to leave and removed from the premises.