Activists concerned with the completed ballot chain of custody and security issues in New Hampshire met with the Secretary of State’s Office earlier this week. At the meeting, they reviewed inconsistencies between towns when securing ballots after elections, the tape’s efficacy, and the taping procedures used to prevent tampering.
The sense I got from conversations with several individuals at the meeting was positive. Everyone seemed interested in ensuring the ballots were secured and were open to reviewing both the tape used and the procedure for using it. Related: Sec. Of State’s Office: It’s The Town’s Problem if Ballots Not Secured
If you’re not following, we’ve been covering the question of improperly boxed and sealed boxes of completed ballots in the Granite State. Failing to do this allows tampering, which can change the actual results in the event of a recount.
We may have arrived at a solution.
The activists tested the existing tape and procedures in person with the SoS personnel and then demonstrated an alternative tape that actually showed evidence of tampering.
Here is a separate video showing the tamper-evident quality of the suggested replacement tape.
Here is a tape test from an earlier article using the tape currently recommended by the State.
The new tape is cheaper, saving anywhere from 5-7$ per roll.
The vendor for the new tape provides instructions on proper use, including what not to do, and is willing to provide training to ensure the sealed cartons containing completed ballots are tamper-proofed.
The Secretary of State’s office did not commit, but the meeting was productive and positive, and everyone seemed willing to accept that there was room for improvement. And there is plenty of time to get the tape and the instructions out to town clerks and election officials in time for the November elections.
We’ll update the story as new information becomes available.
