Chain of Custody: The Missing Link in Election Security
A TBTR.US Election Security Brief
The modern election integrity debate often focuses on voting machines, voter identification, cybersecurity, and election results. While each of these topics has merit, they often overlook one of the most fundamental principles of election administration: Chain of Custody.
At TBTR.US, we teach that election security rests upon three foundational principles: Auditable records, Ballot Secrecy, and Chain of Custody—the ABCs of Election Security. These principles work together to create elections that are transparent, verifiable, and worthy of public trust. Remove any one of these safeguards, and the integrity of the entire process begv cnvhr ins to deteriorate.
What is Chain of Custody?
Chain of Custody is the documented history of an item from the moment it is created until the moment it is archived, destroyed, or presented as evidence. It records who had possession of the item, when they possessed it, where it was stored, how it was transported, and who received it next.
In simple terms, Chain of Custody answers a straightforward question:
Can we prove where this item has been and who controlled it at every step of the process?
Without that proof, the authenticity and reliability of the item become questionable.
The Criminal Evidence Example
To understand the importance of Chain of Custody, consider a homicide investigation.
A firearm is recovered at a murder scene. Investigators photograph the weapon, place it into an evidence bag, seal it, document the location where it was found, and record the identity of the officer who collected it. The firearm is then transferred to an evidence technician, logged into secure storage, transported to a crime laboratory for forensic testing, returned to evidence storage, and eventually presented in court.
At every step, documentation exists showing:
Who possessed the firearm.
When possession changed.
Where the firearm was stored.
Whether the evidence seal remained intact.
Who conducted testing or analysis.
If prosecutors cannot establish this chain of custody, defense attorneys may challenge the evidence. Even if the firearm is authentic, the inability to prove who possessed it and how it was handled can undermine confidence in the evidence itself. That means an open-and-close case cannot be prosecuted, and a killer may walk free having escaped justice.
The lesson is simple: evidence is only as trustworthy as the chain of custody that accompanies it.
Elections are Evidence-Based Processes
Elections are no different.
Every ballot cast is evidence of voter intent. Every set of ballot boxes, ballot bags, poll books, memory devices, tally sheets, batch reports, registration files and precinct’s returns become part of the evidentiary record that supports the final election result.
Just as a prosecutor must prove where a firearm has been from crime scene to courtroom, election officials should be able to demonstrate where ballots have been from issuance to final certification.
The public should be able to ask:
Where were the ballots stored?
Who transported them?
Who had access to them?
When did custody transfer occur?
Were seals intact?
Do the ballot counts reconcile with voter check-ins and precinct returns?
These questions are not accusations, they are the normal questions that accompany any process that relies upon public trust.
Why Precinct-Based Elections Matter
Chain of Custody becomes significantly more difficult when ballots are disconnected from the precincts where they were cast.
Historically, elections were conducted within precincts. Voters voted in their assigned precinct, ballots were counted by precinct, and election results were reported by precinct. This structure naturally supported accountability because election records could be reconciled at the lowest level of election administration.
When ballots are aggregated across large geographic areas and reported through countywide vote centers without preserving clear precinct-level accountability, the ability to independently verify custody records becomes more challenging.
TBTR.US advocates a system that preserves countywide voter access while maintaining precinct-level accountability. Voters who appear outside their assigned precinct polling location should be offered provisional ballots in their proper ballot style. This approach protects voter access while preserving the critical election security principles of Auditable Paper Trails, Ballot Secrecy, and Chain of Custody.
Chain of Custody and Public Confidence
Chain of Custody is not merely about preventing fraud. It is about creating transparency and confidence.
Most election workers are dedicated public servants who perform their duties professionally and honestly. Strong chain of custody procedures protect them as much as they protect the election itself. Proper documentation removes doubt, answers questions, and provides objective evidence that procedures were followed correctly.
In the absence of a documented chain of custody, citizens are often asked to trust the process. In the presence of a documented chain of custody, citizens can verify the process.
That distinction is critical because trust is important, but verification is vital.
The TBTR.US Position
The ABCs of Election Security provide a practical framework for restoring confidence in elections:
A — Auditable Paper Trails: Every vote should produce a voter-verifiable paper ballot that can be recounted and audited.
B — Ballot Secrecy: Every citizen should be able to cast a ballot free from coercion, intimidation, or the possibility of their vote being traced back to them.
C — Chain of Custody: Every ballot and election record should be documented, secured, and accounted for from beginning to end.
These principles are procedural and not partisan, despite the claims made about this movement to secure US elections. These are the same standards that Americans expect in banking, law enforcement, accounting, and every other field where public trust depends upon accurate records and accountability.
Election integrity begins with evidence. Evidence begins with voting by precinct and ends with a solid, complete, accurate and unbroken chain of custody.
For more information, read The ABCs of Election Security and explore additional educational resources available through TBTR.US.
Thank you,
Aubree
Founder TBTR.US
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