MultiHub Forum

I'm a county election official preparing for the upcoming national election, and my primary concern is bolstering public confidence in our processes amidst widespread misinformation. We use paper ballots with optical scanners and have robust post-election auditing procedures, but public skepticism remains high. For other election administrators, what communication strategies have you found most effective for transparently educating voters about security measures like chain of custody and risk-limiting audits without overwhelming them with technical jargon?

Plain-language explainer and visuals first. I’d start with a 2–3 minute video and a one-page infographic that answers: How a ballot moves from the polling place to the scanner; what chain of custody means in concrete terms (sealed envelopes, documented transfer, chain log); what a risk-limiting audit is and why it helps, and how results are posted. Then set up a weekly live Q&A in plain language, plus a clickable glossary on the website. Keep the visuals friendly and use relatable analogies (like a package handoff).