Scott Petersen Calls on Secretary of State Bob Evnen to Release All Digital Audit Files, Including Cast Vote Records (CVRs), for the Secretary of State Race
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Lincoln, NE – Building on his call for a full manual hand count, Scott Petersen, candidate for Nebraska Secretary of State, today urged Bob Evnen to immediately release all digital audit files and Cast Vote Records (CVRs) from the 2026 Secretary of State race.
“Pre-election Logic and Accuracy testing checks machines with known test ballots, but true verification requires access to both the paper ballots and the digital records of how those machines actually tabulated real votes,” said Petersen. “I am calling for the immediate public release of every digital audit file and Cast Vote Record related to this race. If Secretary Evnen stands by the accuracy of our elections, these records should be made available without delay.”
What are Cast Vote Records (CVRs)?
A Cast Vote Record (CVR) is the detailed electronic record created by ballot tabulation machines (optical scanners) for each scanned paper ballot. It shows exactly how the machine interpreted and counted the voter’s selections in every race, serving as the machine’s “digital memory” of the vote. CVRs contain no personal voter information, only anonymous vote selections.
Why CVRs and digital audit files matter for transparency:
They create the essential audit trail needed to independently verify that voting machines tabulated actual ballots correctly.
Comparing CVRs side-by-side with the physical paper ballots allows officials, candidates, and observers to confirm machine accuracy or identify any discrepancies.
Full access enables more robust, reproducible audits beyond the current limited sample hand counts.
Without public or independent access to CVRs, meaningful verification of the electronic tabulation process remains restricted.
Petersen added: “Paper ballots are only half the solution. Complete transparency also requires the digital side. The Cast Vote Records reveal precisely what the machines recorded on election day. As the candidate committed to openness, I will ensure these vital audit tools are preserved and accessible so every Nebraskan can trust the process.”
Together, a hand count of the paper ballots paired with full release of CVRs and digital audit files would provide the strongest possible verification of results in the race for Nebraska’s chief election officer.
Petersen emphasized that such releases protect voter privacy while increasing confidence.
“As the chief election officer, the Secretary of State should lead by example,” he stated. “Release the hand-count audit data, all digital files, and the Cast Vote Records. Secrecy breeds doubt; openness builds trust.”
Petersen urged county election officials to support the preservation and release of these records and offered to work collaboratively on secure processes that maintain ballot chain-of-custody.