By David Levine, General Registrar and Director of Elections
C. Starlet Stevens, Board Chair
Katherine Maxwell, Board Vice Chair
Joyce K. Smith, Board Secretary
Richmond Electoral Board
October 21, 2025
As Richmond’s General Registrar and Electoral Board, our shared responsibility is to ensure
that elections in our city are conducted securely, accurately, transparently, and with equal
access for all voters. We know firsthand how much work goes into building and maintaining
public confidence in the process. From keeping voter registration lists accurate, to conducting
risk-limiting audits, to training poll workers and ensuring ballots are handled securely, election
officials across Virginia dedicate themselves to making sure every eligible vote is counted and
every election is run with integrity.
And yet, the hardest part of election administration often isn’t the logistics, it’s voter confidence.
Elections can be run flawlessly from a technical standpoint, but if voters don’t believe the
process is fair and legitimate, democracy itself suffers.
Virginia has always been at the heart of America’s democratic story. From the Virginia
Declaration of Rights to generations of civic leadership, the Commonwealth has both shaped
and wrestled with the meaning of democracy, reminding us that trust must be continually
earned, not assumed. That trust allows citizens to cast ballots with confidence, knowing their
voices will be heard and respected. With Virginians heading to the polls this November, leaders
across the political spectrum have a timely opportunity to reaffirm that legacy.
One way to do so is by embracing the Principles for Trusted Elections. This nonpartisan
framework has already been endorsed by Republicans, Democrats, independents, and
community leaders across the country. The reason is simple: these Principles are about values,
not politics. They provide a clear set of standards that define what makes elections worthy of
trust.
Elections must be impartial and follow the rule of law. In Virginia, that means maintaining
accurate voter registration lists, ensuring equal access for all eligible voters, and administering
elections transparently. Campaigns must be free from threats and intimidation. Virginia law
protects voters and election workers from coercion, and reaffirming this principle helps preserve
voter confidence. Every eligible vote must be counted, and the election process must be
protected from interference. Virginia’s use of paper ballots, statutory risk-limiting audits,
and strict handling procedures provide strong safeguards, but public awareness of these protections
is just as important as the protections themselves. Oversight must also be conducted
responsibly. Poll watchers, authorized representatives, and observers all have defined roles
under Virginia law, and respecting those boundaries without interference is essential for trust.
And once results are certified and all lawful challenges resolved, those outcomes must be
respected. Peaceful acceptance of election results is what allows Virginia – and America – to
move forward together.
These may sound like basic commitments, but their significance can’t be overstated. When
Virginia’s civic leaders affirm them publicly, they strengthen democracy. Standing with
colleagues across the aisle shows voters that democracy is first and foremost about shared
values, not partisan gain. Election officials already work to uphold these standards every day,
but leaders’ visible support helps the public see that commitment more clearly, and encourages
citizens themselves to protect and promote trust in elections.
There are simple, meaningful steps Virginians can take to reaffirm this tradition. We have
signed the Principles pledge myself because we believe election officials should lead by
example. Leaders and citizens alike should do the same, joining a growing coalition committed
to these democratic values. They should make that commitment public, whether by sharing it on
social media or appearing alongside a colleague from across the aisle, to show Virginians that
safeguarding democratic elections transcends party advantage. Citizens, too, can play a role by
urging their elected officials and candidates to do the same.
The Principles for Trusted Elections are about more than how ballots are cast or counted. They
are about honoring a Virginia tradition that has shaped American democracy itself. By standing
together in support of these Principles, Virginians can once again show the nation that
democracy is strongest when its processes are respected.
As Richmond’s General Registrar and Electoral Board, we carry a shared responsibility to
ensure that our elections are conducted securely, accurately, and transparently. The Principles
for Trusted Elections reflect the standards that election officials like me strive to uphold every
day. By embracing and affirming them now, Virginians can demonstrate that trust in elections is
not only possible, it is paramount.
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