Decoding the 2020 Election

Election security was one of the most challenging elements of the 2020 election. This page focuses on Pennsylvania's election security measures that had begun to be set in place starting in 2018 after the Joint Commission of the General Assembly published its 2017 report on the state of Pennsylvania's voting system and equipment. Other pages that coincide with this one are Pennsylvania Voter Legislation, particularly Act 77, which was legislation that helped fund new and more secure election best practices and adopt new machines and updated software. Additionally, new Post-Election Auditing practices were added to increase the security measures used. 

2018 - Department of State Directs all PA Counties to Select New Voting Systems

In April 2018, the Department of State directed all PA counties to select new voting systems with voter-verifiable paper records by Dec. 31, 2019, and implement them no later than the 2020 primary election. These systems will ensure that Pennsylvanians are voting on the most secure, accessible, and auditable equipment available. (PA Votes - Election Security in Pennsylvania)

2018-2019 - Department of State Certifies New Voting Systems

In 2018 and 2019, the department certified seven new voting systems that provide a paper record, meet the latest standards of security and accessibility, and can be thoroughly audited. In addition, in Pennsylvania, every voting system and paper ballot must include plain text that voters can read to verify their choices before casting their ballot, and every system has successfully completed penetration testing, access control testing, and testing to ensure that every access point, software, and firmware are protected from tampering. (PA Votes - Election Security in Pennsylvania)

2020 - June 2, 2020, Primary Election Verifies New Voting Systems and Audits Are Secure and Accurate

As of the June 2, 2020, primary election, all 67 of Pennsylvania's counties have deployed voting systems that produce voter-verifiable paper records and meet 21^st-century standards of security, auditability, and accessibility.

Electronic Voting Systems Certified after January 1, 2018

Learn more about the new voting systems that produce a paper record and offer upgraded security and accessibility. Find instructions, testing documentation, videos, and more:

*Recreated from PA Votes - Electronic Voting Systems Certified after January 1, 2018

Secretary of the Commonwealth - Broockvar's Testimony 

Watch or read the transcripts from Secretary Broockvar's testimony to the House Judiciary Committee on Pennsylvania election security.