The Prince William County Board of Supervisors received a presentation from the county’s Office of Elections detailing ongoing efforts to ensure elections are accurate, secure, and accessible. The overview included information about the office’s staffing, which consists of 18 full-time employees, up to 20 seasonal workers, and more than 2,000 bipartisan election officers for each election.
The Office of Elections emphasized its focus on accuracy, transparency, customer service, and clear communication. Staff described how systems are in place to reduce human error and how public-facing resources help build voter trust. The office also highlighted its commitment to providing clear information across various formats to reach different audiences.
“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 Eric Olsen, Prince William Director of Elections.
According to the presentation, there are approximately 330,000 registered voters in the county. Voters can choose between early voting at six locations with select weekend and evening hours, mail-in ballots, or voting at one of 103 polling places on Election Day. All polling places offer curbside voting and comply with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. Although early and mail-in voting have increased in popularity—nearly half voted this way in the last general election—Election Day remains the most 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 indicated strong confidence in local elections: overall satisfaction stands at 94 percent with 67 percent reporting they are “very satisfied” with their experience.
The presentation addressed challenges identified from 2020 to 2021 such as late results and long lines at early voting sites. In response, improvements included high-speed scanners for ballot processing, enhanced data entry procedures on Election Night, expanded early voting locations and check-in stations at precincts, as well as a direct-mail recruitment campaign for election officers. These changes led to a more balanced mix of Democratic, Republican and non-partisan officers.
Transparency measures were also discussed; these include posting result tapes and security documentation online as well as hosting open houses for public education about the process. As a result of these efforts, the Office of Elections received three national or statewide awards in 2025—the first Virginia elections office to earn all three honors.
“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 further details about local elections visit pwcvotes.org.
