SE Valley Times

Representative Rachel Keshel expressed her approval of a new executive order issued by President Trump aimed at restoring transparency and verifiability in U.S. elections. According to Keshel, this order ensures elections will be controlled by Americans without the involvement of machines or barcode algorithms. She remarked, "This Executive Order is exactly what this country needs," emphasizing the necessity for visible and countable votes by humans.

The executive order will prompt the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to expedite the implementation of the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 (VVSG 2.0). Compliance with these standards will negate the certification of current electronic voting systems, forcing states like Arizona to alter their voting procedures, which presently rely on barcode-based vote counting.

Currently, in Arizona, the process involves scanning hand-marked paper ballots and converting them into a digital code for machine interpretation. This transformation makes the barcode the official vote, a process Keshel criticized: "This system is a slap in the face to every voter in Arizona who thinks their ballot speaks for them," she stated.

Keshel called for Arizona to start readying for the 2026 elections using solely hand-marked and hand-counted paper ballots. She proposed that state and county officials halt funding for electronic systems that won't meet the impending federal standards and advised the legislature to enable counties to opt for "paper ballot counties" to secure transparent elections.

President Trump's order supports federal enforcement where national security and citizenship verification are concerned while affirming the states' constitutional role in elections. Keshel noted, "This order is the first step... More reforms are coming."

Additionally, Keshel highlighted federal legislative efforts, mentioning U.S. Representative Chip Roy's SAVE Act and U.S. Representative Pete Sessions's MESA Act, both of which advocate for voter verification and hand-marked elections. "We need elections that every voter can understand, witness, and trust," Keshel concluded.