Fairfax County Board Chairman Jeff McKay told a congressional panel that the county's election system relies on hand-marked paper ballots and an internet-disconnected results network.

The testimony, at an Oct. 1 forum at the Fairfax County Government Center, addressed security measures covering Vienna voters heading to the polls for the Nov. 3 general election. FFXnow first reported on the event, which House Democrats called a "shadow hearing" because they lack subpoena power as the minority party.

Rep. Joe Morelle (D-New York) and Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-Va.), whose 11th District includes Vienna, led the forum. Virginia Reps. Jennifer McClellan, Suhas Subramanyam, Bobby Scott and Eugene Vindman also attended.

McKay laid out the county's election security architecture. Ballots are marked by hand. After polls close, results go to "an air-gapped election management system, never connected to the internet," McKay said.

Two election officers from both major parties oversee every ballot transfer, he said. Equipment carries tamper-proof seals, and access to early voting sites is strictly controlled.

Drop boxes funded, early turnout climbing

The Board of Supervisors on Sept. 15 approved $45,000 in carryover budget funding to install 24/7 ballot drop boxes at the Mount Vernon Governmental Center and the North County Government Center in Reston. Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck proposed the funding to give voters more flexibility, according to FFXnow.

An existing drop box at the Fairfax County Government Center has had "absolutely no" cases of tampering, McKay said. The county elections office says that box is available around the clock once early voting begins and until 7 p.m. on Election Day.

As of Oct. 4, 44,779 Fairfax County residents had already voted early, a figure FFXnow described as "a sizable upswing from 2022," citing Virginia Public Access Project data.

ICE-at-polls concern raised

Subramanyam said at the hearing that he has "heard a lot of constituents concerned about ICE being at polling locations."

Skye Perryman, CEO and president of Democracy Forward, told the panel that three lawsuits challenge a Department of Homeland Security policy authorizing armed ICE agents at polling places during the midterms. Virginia is among several states that passed laws in 2026 limiting federal agents at polls, PolitiFact reported. A federal statute dating to the Civil War also prohibits armed federal officials at voting sites, according to election law experts cited in that report.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in September that ICE agents would not "patrol" polling places but could respond to "specific threats," according to FFXnow.

McKay said regional law enforcement agencies are meeting "to talk about plans and things that might have to be done should the election be challenged and should there be unrest in the community."

What Vienna voters need to know

All Vienna elections are managed by the Fairfax County Office of Elections. Early voting is underway at three county locations. An additional 13 sites, including the McLean Governmental Center at 1437 Balls Hill Road, open Oct. 22 through Oct. 31, with weekday hours of 1–7 p.m. and Saturday hours of 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

The deadline to request a mail-in ballot or register to vote is Friday, Oct. 23. On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Voters with questions can call the elections office at 703-222-0776.