wATERMARKING THE bALLOTS

Do you believe every ballot is sacred and should be treated that way? 

I do. And this is why, as the Macomb County Clerk, I decided your vote was important enough to watermark all our ballots to elevate its security.

It is hard to believe that the current Michigan Secretary of State does not require it now. 

But if I am elected as your next Secretary of State, I will.

Watermarking is a simple and unique way to secure our ballots. Here is a real life example: hold up a $20 bill up to the light and you will see what I'm talking about. If our American cash is watermarked - shouldn't our ballots be watermarked as well?

When you watermark ballots it does a number of things for a citizen's vote. It:

• Provides physical record for future accountability: When you have a watermarked ballot it means you have a physical ballot and that physical ballot can be reviewed later. Physical ballots are much more reliable than digital records alone.
• Protects against stuffing ballot boxes or fake ballots: Water marked ballots have a physical digital stamp and it makes things harder for nefarious endeavors.
• Establishes chain of custody: Watermarked ballots help election officials to verify ballots cast are real.
  
  

Did you know that watermarking documents started in 1282 in Italy? It was a secure way to identify where the documents had come from but it quickly spread and became a way to prevent forgery. 

When I am elected to be your next Secretary of State, I will work to make sure every local County Clerk has the tools and process to have watermarked ballots.

​It is an important key to making sure our elections are more secure for your sacred vote.