About
VotingWorks is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that develops open-source election technology with a mission to make voting systems every American can trust. Unlike proprietary voting vendors, VotingWorks publishes its full source code and documentation so that election officials, security researchers, and the public can independently verify how votes are counted — because, as they put it, 'votes should not be counted with secret code.' Their end-to-end voting system covers the full election lifecycle: voters can mark ballots by hand on clear, easy-to-read paper ballots or use an accessible ballot-marking device for those who need one. Voted ballots are scanned and tabulated using what VotingWorks describes as the fastest and most accurate tabulator available. After election day, built-in audit tools allow officials to verify that all votes were properly counted and that results are accurate. Security is central to VotingWorks' design. The system is tested to the latest federal certification standards (EAC VVSG), undergoes regular third-party security audits, and includes a field-verifiable software integrity check that takes about 30 seconds. The system is also engineered to detect, prevent, and mitigate human error — a common source of election problems — rather than blaming errors after the fact. VotingWorks is purpose-built for election administrators, county clerks, and state officials seeking a trustworthy, cost-effective alternative to proprietary voting systems.
Key Features
- Open-Source Codebase: All source code and documentation are publicly available so anyone — officials, researchers, or the public — can verify how votes are counted.
- Paper Ballot Voting: Voters mark ballots by hand on clear, easy-to-read paper, with accessible ballot-marking devices available for those who need them.
- Fast & Accurate Tabulation: High-speed optical ballot scanning and tabulation designed for accuracy, with software integrity verifiable in the field in under 30 seconds.
- Post-Election Auditing: Built-in audit tools allow election officials to confirm that all votes were properly counted and that reported results match the paper record.
- Federal Security Certification: Tested to the latest EAC federal certification standards with regular third-party security assessments to guard against vulnerabilities.
Use Cases
- County and state election officials seeking a federally certified, open-source alternative to proprietary voting systems.
- Jurisdictions conducting post-election audits to verify that tabulated results match paper ballot records.
- Election security researchers and academics who want to inspect and analyze the full source code of a real-world voting system.
- Accessible voting environments where voters need ballot-marking devices in addition to standard hand-marked paper ballots.
- Municipalities looking to increase public trust in elections by using a transparent, nonprofit-developed, publicly auditable voting system.
Pros
- Full Transparency: Publicly available source code and documentation let anyone audit the system, building public confidence in election results.
- Nonprofit Mission-Driven: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, VotingWorks is not profit-motivated and does not support any political candidate or party, ensuring neutrality.
- Human Error Mitigation: The system is specifically designed to detect, prevent, and mitigate human error rather than treating it as inevitable.
- Federal Certification & Third-Party Audits: Regular security testing and compliance with federal voting standards give jurisdictions strong assurance of reliability and safety.
Cons
- Niche Audience: Designed exclusively for election administrators and government bodies — not a general-purpose tool for everyday users or businesses.
- Implementation Complexity: Deploying a jurisdiction-wide voting system requires significant coordination, training, and compliance work even with open-source software.
- Limited Self-Service Onboarding: Adoption requires direct engagement with the VotingWorks team; there is no self-service sign-up or instant trial available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is VotingWorks software really open source?
Yes. VotingWorks publishes its complete source code and documentation publicly so that anyone can review, audit, and verify how the system works. This transparency is a core part of their mission.
What federal standards does VotingWorks meet?
VotingWorks tests its systems to the latest federal Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG) set by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), and undergoes regular third-party security testing.
Does VotingWorks support accessible voting?
Yes. In addition to hand-marked paper ballots, VotingWorks offers ballot-marking devices (BMDs) for voters who need or prefer an accessible option.
How can election officials verify the software hasn't been tampered with?
VotingWorks provides a field-verifiable software integrity check that can be performed in approximately 30 seconds, allowing officials to confirm the system is running the expected, unmodified code.
Is VotingWorks affiliated with any political party?
No. VotingWorks is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit and explicitly does not support or oppose any political candidate or party.
