Election Integrity Maintained, Improved Accessibility and Data Security Transparency Needed

Updated November 3, 2025

The electoral process is increasingly scrutinized and public confidence in elections has lost ground. In Deschutes County, the responsibility to uphold the integrity of elections is more vital than ever. The objective of the audit was to determine whether the County’s election system was secure, accessible, and accurate. Auditors focused on information security for the ballot tabulation system, voter roll maintenance, the signature verification process, ballot adjudication, and accessibility for people with physical disabilities or language barriers.

What was found:

Overall, we found controls were working as intended. Voter rolls were appropriately maintained, signatures were verified, and staff properly interpreted voter intent. These observations inspire trust in the Deschutes County election process.

However, we also found room for improvement in accessibility both for people with physical disabilities and those needing language assistance.

Finally, the Clerk refused to provide auditors with information about information security related to ballot counting software. The Auditor cannot draw a conclusion related to information security for ballot counting software, provide assurance that the system is secure, or offer recommendations to support continuous improvement.

What was recommended:

We recommended that the County Clerk:

• Inspect drop boxes on a regular basis using Americans with Disabilities Act standards for accessible design.

• Create a plan for improving any boxes that do not meet checklist standards.