Secrecy of Ballot, Election Security Could Be at Risk in Virginia Contests

The secret ballot is at risk in a populous Virginia county near Washington, D.C., amid one of the most closely watched state elections of 2025, Republicans charge. 

The Fairfax County Republican Committee sent a letter calling for the county’s General Registrar Eric Spicer to correct the design for the absentee ballot return envelope that potentially exposes a vote for GOP Attorney General Jason Miyares.  

The letter sent Friday said Fairfax County election officials created several risks with the envelope design. 

Republicans warn that certain ballots could selectively be removed before being tabulated, which would violate federal and state laws. The problem is limited to Fairfax County, said Fairfax County Republican Chairwoman Katie Gorka.

Gorka also noted the potential exposure of a votes risks the integrity of the election and undermines voters’ confidence.

“The bigger story is that a lot of election changes were made during COVID-19. Why have we left all of the COVID-19 measures in place? No-excuse absentee voting, 45 days of early voting, and this weird paper shortage the county has apparently had since 2021,” Gorka told The Daily Signal. 

Miyares is facing a challenge from Democrat Jay Jones, a former state assemblyman, in the attorney general’s race. Exposure to how a ballot is being cast for an attorney general candidate could at least suggest which party a voter is supporting in the governor’s race between Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a former U.S. House member.  

By Monday, the county office posted a statement on its homepage. 

“Noting public concerns about the design of the ballot envelopes in Fairfax County, voters who are concerned about making sure their ballot is received can do the following: If you are not already planning to vote by mail, you can vote in person, early or on Election Day,” the county said in the statement. 

It goes on to offer other specific guidance:

“1.) If voting by mail, you should fold the ballot (vote selections facing in) so that the markings do not show.

“2.) You can check the status of your mail ballot at https://fairfaxco.ballottrax.net/voter/ or by calling the Fairfax registrar at 703-222-0776.

“3.) If you are concerned that your ballot was not received, you can go to your polling place on Election Day and vote provisionally. The registrar will ensure that each voter’s ballot is counted only once.”

A spokesperson for Fairfax County referred The Daily Signal to the election office’s statement but forwarded specific questions to the election office. The election office did not respond to specific questions.

The statement largely echoed the county GOP letter, which made the following three requests:

“1) Instruct and encourage absentee ballot recipients who have not yet returned their absentee ballots to turn in all ballot materials including the return envelope at a polling place and to vote in person.

“2) Instruct and encourage absentee ballot recipients who have already returned their absentee ballots to confirm that their ballots have been received using the site https://fairfaxco.ballottrax.net/voter/. If the return ballot has not been received, encourage the voter to contact the Fairfax County Office of Elections at [email protected].

“3) Instruct voters whose only option is to vote by mail that they should insert their marked ballot into the return mailer envelope in a way that does not expose their selection for the Attorney General race.”

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