Public commenters urge SBE to restrict cyber navigator access, use DHS SAFE verification and clarify residency form

Several members of the public raised election-administration concerns during public comment at the July meeting of the Virginia State Board of Elections, urging the board to change its public-comment procedures and to address cybersecurity and voter-verification practices.

Ann Grigorian, a public commenter, asked the board to “reinstate comment during agenda items so the board can be proactive rather than reactive to public concerns.” She also congratulated Norfolk electoral board member Mary Anne McKay on a court decision and expressed concern about the Department of Elections’ oversight of college interns placed in registrar offices under the cyber navigator program. “It’s alarming that Lehi is allowing election critical infrastructure to be accessed by individuals who have not received a standard background check, hold no security clearance, and are not required to be U.S. citizens,” Grigorian said. She cited “Presidential Executive Order 14,248, Section 6” and asked the board to prohibit further participation in the program until a security review is completed.

Grigorian also urged the board to allow the Department of Elections to use expanded batch verification through the Department of Homeland Security’s SAFE program. “Elect is now able to run its entire voter list for verification with DHS to include Social Security and death matching,” she said, and asked the board to amend Administrative Code language and comply with “SB 1077 passed in 2013,” which she said requires the State Board to promulgate rules governing use of SAFE data.

Michelle Kantor Cohen, policy director at Fair Election Center, and Joan Port, identified in the record as “president, leader of women voters of Virginia,” both addressed item 9 on the agenda, the inquiry-as-to-residency form. Kantor Cohen urged that the form’s language be revised to make clear that applicants whose registration is denied may “register at the time of voting, as allowed by the Virginia code,” so they are not confused about same‑day registration and provisional-ballot procedures. Kantor Cohen said the final sentence of the form presently states that applicants may appeal a denial to circuit court or reapply before the next registration deadline; she recommended explicitly including the time‑of‑voting registration option. Port made a similar recommendation.

Board staff later presented an amended inquiry-as-to-residency form to reflect changes enacted by the 2025 General Assembly that shortened the registration-closure period; the board approved the amended form to be effective July 1, 2025. Staff noted that broader regulatory changes to 1VAC20-40-50 would be required for major revisions.

Why it matters

Commenters raised operational and security questions that bear on who may access election systems and on how voters are informed about same-day registration and provisional ballots. The board’s approval of an amended residency form addresses part of the commenters’ request, though Grigorian’s broader request to change Department practices around the cyber navigator program and to adopt DHS SAFE batch verification would require additional staff action or regulatory change.

Sources: public comments recorded in the meeting transcript and staff presentations; board approval of the amended inquiry as to residency form recorded in the meeting vote.