Score: +2
(2/3/0)
Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
• 2017-2018
Every Vote Counts a Look at Our County Elections Department
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 7 findings
F1
Elections in Santa Cruz County are run fairly and conscientiously, with numerous procedures and safeguards that minimize the likelihood of fraud or systemic errors. Although minor problems occurred, we consider these inevitable given the number of people and the complexity of the process, and they were detected or reported and remedied expeditiously.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
Most equipment used to conduct the election is old, much of it nearing or past its useful life. This includes voting machines and electronic and mechanical vote counting systems. Spare parts are increasingly hard to find.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
The Elections Department should continue to be proactive in evaluating voting systems that are safe, efficient, and available. (F2–F5, F7)
R3
The Board of Supervisors should begin the process of identifying and budgeting the requisite funds for replacement of election equipment once it is certified. (F2–F5)
F3
Santa Cruz County uses a state certified system that meets state standards. Beyond keeping some key systems offline, this equipment does not implement adequate computer security measures.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
The Elections Department should continue to be proactive in evaluating voting systems that are safe, efficient, and available. (F2–F5, F7)
R3
The Board of Supervisors should begin the process of identifying and budgeting the requisite funds for replacement of election equipment once it is certified. (F2–F5)
F4
Santa Cruz County limits physical access to the ballots and the machinery used to process the ballots and conducts comprehensive audits both before and after every election.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
The Elections Department should continue to be proactive in evaluating voting systems that are safe, efficient, and available. (F2–F5, F7)
R3
The Board of Supervisors should begin the process of identifying and budgeting the requisite funds for replacement of election equipment once it is certified. (F2–F5)
F5
Voting equipment that the county would select to replace its aging infrastructure has not yet been certified. When the certified replacement equipment becomes available, it is not clear when funds might be provided.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
The Elections Department should continue to be proactive in evaluating voting systems that are safe, efficient, and available. (F2–F5, F7)
R3
The Board of Supervisors should begin the process of identifying and budgeting the requisite funds for replacement of election equipment once it is certified. (F2–F5)
F6
Re-use of USB drives on the offline vote collection systems, after being attached to an internet-connected system, is a possible avenue to compromise the offline systems.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
In order to protect the integrity of the count, once USB drives or other equipment have been connected to the county network, they should never be reattached to the offline vote counting systems. (F6)
F7
While currently not being considered in Santa Cruz County, the future possibility of internet voting is a concern due to the inability to ensure the security and anonymity of the vote.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Elections Department should continue to be proactive in evaluating voting systems that are safe, efficient, and available. (F2–F5, F7)
Conclusions 1
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CL1 Page 13Most of us who have exercised our right to vote have probably never considered the breadth and depth of preparation and effort required to run an election. As we followed along in the process, we were consistently impressed by the layers of protection and redundancy built into the system, and the lengths to which the Elections Department goes to ensure the integrity of the vote. The Department’s commitment, dedication and attention to detail shine through at every step. While the broader claims of election fraud show no signs of abating in the near future, all residents of Santa Cruz County should have faith in the integrity of our elections and the reliability and commitment of our Elections Department.
Commendations 1
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CM1 Page 14C1. The Grand Jury recognizes the diligence, dedication, and hard work of the Elections Department. We had their full cooperation, and observed first-hand the immense number of hours and the effort they put into running an election, while maintaining an impressive level of professionalism. C2. The Elections Department’s website, votescount.com, is a valuable and comprehensive resource.
Agency Responses 2
Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.