Office of Elections Presentation Highlights Ongoing Focus on Accuracy, Transparency and Voter Confidence

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors received an overview from the Prince William County Office of Elections outlining how the office carries out its responsibility of running accurate, secure and accessible elections each year. 

The presentation began with an overview of the office’s structure and guiding values. With 18 full-time employees, 5 to 20 seasonal temporary workers and more than 2,000 bipartisan election officers per election, the office focuses on accuracy, transparency, customer service and clear communication. 

Staff shared how those areas of focus are reflected in day-to-day operations. Accuracy is supported through systems designed to minimize human error, while transparency is strengthened through the use of innovative tools and public-facing resources that help build voter trust. A strong emphasis on customer service ensures responsiveness for voters, county partners and the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, supported by clear, easy-to-understand information across multiple formats.  

“While we do reach people through our website, through social media … print and mail, [it] is still important to make sure that we're reaching a lot of different audiences,” said Prince William Director of Elections Eric Olsen. 

The presentation, which showed that there are roughly 330,000 registered county voters, also walked through the voting experience in Prince William County. Voters have multiple options, including early, mail-in and Election Day voting. For most elections, early voting is available at six locations, with select weekend and evening hours. On Election Day, 103 polling places operate from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., all offering curbside voting and Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility. While early and mail voting continue to grow, Election Day remains the most commonly used option. 

“What we're seeing increasingly is that more voters are voting before election day. In our last general election just under half voted either early or by mail.” Olsen said. “So that trend is likely to continue. We're going to see more voters voting by mail. It’s a popular option.”  

Voter feedback was also shared, showing strong confidence in the county’s election process. Overall voter satisfaction stands at 94 percent, with 67 percent of voters reporting they are “very satisfied” with their voting experience. 

The presentation also outlined the steps taken in response to challenges identified from 2020 to 2021, which included late and uneven election results, long lines at early voting sites, gaps in political party equity among election officers, and concerns related to election processes and transparency. Improvements included the addition of high-speed scanners, enhanced Election Night data entry and verification, and the creation of a triple-check post-election review process. Early voting locations and precinct check-in stations were expanded, and a direct-mail recruitment effort helped strengthen election officer recruitment and retention, resulting in a more balanced pool of Democratic, Republican and non-partisan officers.   

The presentation concluded with a look at ongoing transparency efforts. Election result tapes, election manuals, security documentation, task-tracking tools and educational videos are posted online, and the office continues to host open houses to explain the election process and address misinformation.  Those efforts resulted in the Office of Elections receiving three national or statewide awards in 2025, making it the first elections office in Virginia to earn all three.

“The Office of Elections has made tremendous strides to improve the voting experience and the transparency of our elections in Prince William County,” Olsen said. “We continually review our systems and make improvements to ensure every voter has a positive, accessible and secure voting experience.”  

For more information about elections in Prince William County, visit pwcvotes.org.