Sandoval confident in elections

RENO, Nev. (KOLO) - Early voting is well underway here in Nevada.

There will always be a healthy skepticism about elections, counting machines, and elections workers.

Former Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, who is now president of University of Nevada, Reno, is also with the Democracy Defense Foundation. It’s a group of state leaders who wants to foster confidence in our elections, increase voter participation and encourage greater transparency.

“People come in to vote,” said Sandoval. “I cast my vote yesterday and have complete confidence and trust in our system. And they shouldn’t have to worry about those things. And you referenced it. It is exhaustive, in terms of what the Secretary of State does, what the Washoe County voter registrar does.”

What gives Sandoval such confidence?

He says he’s watched machines tested two weeks prior to early voting. Software was tested so that machines are accurately taking in information. The process is done again the day prior to Election Day.

And once Election Day is done, another round of testing takes place.

“To ensure that election integrity,” said Sandoval. “These machines are not connected to the internet. That’s one of those urban myths. It’s not just the machine, it is the printer, it’s the whole process.“

He says there are security measures as well.

A resident would have a tough time voting twice or voting for someone else, which is against the law.

“They asked my birth date, address, and looked at my signature and compared those,” he said. “There was a process where if you’ve already received your mail in ballot you can give it to them. They will take it and shred it for you, and they will give you what you need to do if you don’t have that ballot with you.”

Sandoval says as far as transparency is concerned, there are observation areas at every voting center to watch the process firsthand.

Election workers are already processing ballots at the registrar’s office and the public can watch that as well.