JSA2026 Commonwealth Budget – Volume XX

Election Security, Voter Confidence & Digital Voting Integrity Plan

Date: May 12, 2025
Contact: Jason S. Arnold
Email: jaysarnold@icloud.com
Phone: (516) 586-0660
Campaign Site: https://jsa2026.com

In Volume XX, the JSA2026 Commonwealth Budget confronts one of the most critical pillars of a functioning republic: trust in our elections. New York has fallen behind in providing transparent, auditable, and fraud-resistant voting systems. Our proposal does not favor any party—it favors the people, and it demands reforms now.

Key Reforms Proposed

• Paper Ballot Mandate: Every vote in New York will have a verifiable paper trail, with no exceptions for convenience-based digital-only systems.
• Full Chain of Custody Transparency: We will require live reporting of ballot chain-of-custody data for all elections, visible on a public online portal updated in real-time by poll inspectors.
• Mandatory Risk-Limiting Audits: Every county will be required to perform publicly observed audits of randomly selected precincts before certification.
• Decentralization of Control: All election equipment and software procurement will be localized and subjected to community oversight boards. No more shadowy contracts or hidden source code from multinational vendors.
• Statewide Voter Roll Cleansing: A one-time, independently verified review of New York’s voter rolls will be initiated, with quarterly updates to ensure only eligible voters remain active.

New Voting Technology Standards

• All digital election systems must run on open-source software, undergo independent peer review, and pass a cybersecurity stress test by the New York State Cyber Integrity Division.
• Any networked system must feature “air gap” emergency protocols and physically isolated backup systems.
• All machines must be manufactured in the U.S. or an allied nation. Foreign equipment in election systems will be banned.

Public Oversight Tools

We will fund the development of a New York Voter Integrity Portal where citizens can:

• View ballot tracking data from absentee to counted status
• Report irregularities anonymously or with identity verification
• Review candidate filings, donations, and complaint resolutions
• Participate in secure referenda and issue polling on future initiatives

Ballot Access Equality

We will cut through red tape and restore justice to the ballot access process by:

• Reducing required petition signatures for third-party and independent candidates
• Allowing digital signature collection through blockchain-authenticated platforms
• Providing every certified campaign with equal access to free digital voter outreach through the state-run platform outlined in Volume XIX

Estimated Budget Impact

• Election Security Upgrades (Machines, Audits, Training): $420 million (initial investment)
• Annual Transparency & Portal Maintenance: $22 million/year
• Long-Term Savings from Reduced Disputes and Lawsuits: Estimated $60–80 million saved per decade

Democracy dies in doubt. Volume XX of the Commonwealth Budget restores that trust—by making every vote count, every system open, and every citizen confident in their voice.

Final Thought

You shouldn’t have to belong to the right party or know the right people to trust your vote was counted. In JSA2026, we count every legal vote, secure every system, and invite every citizen to verify it.

“I’m not a good candidate. I’m the right one.”