Voting Machines

Election Fraud - Vulnerability of Machines

Voting Machines

There have been instances where hackers have revealed how easy it is to hack U.S. voting machines. At DEF CON's Voting Machine Village, hackers were invited to hack various voting machines used in the U.S. and compromised every voting machine available at the 2019 event. However, having a national effect requires substantial resources. In close or marginal races, these vulnerabilities are significant. Awareness is critical. There are several ways to prevent the hacking of voting machines. One way is to use paper ballots to establish a backup vote record. Another way is to outlaw any internet voting. Election officials should conduct rigorous pre- and post-election testing on the machines, conduct post-election audits, ensure devices are always secure, and encourage voters to double-check that their ballots are readable before scanning. Electronic voting machines from a leading vendor used in at least 16 states have software vulnerabilities that leave them susceptible to hacking if unaddressed, the nation's leading cybersecurity agency says in an advisory sent to state election officials. The advisory, obtained by The Associated Press before its expected Friday release, details nine vulnerabilities and suggests protective measures to prevent or detect their exploitation. Amid a swirl of misinformation and disinformation about elections, CISA seems to be trying to walk a line between not alarming the public and stressing the need for election officials to take action. CISA Executive Director Brandon Wales said, "States' standard election security procedures would detect exploitation of these vulnerabilities and, in many cases, prevent attempts entirely." Yet the advisory seems to suggest states aren't doing enough. It urges prompt mitigation measures, including continued and enhanced "defensive measures to reduce the risk of exploitation of these vulnerabilities." The advisory says those measures need to be applied before every election, and it's clear that's not happening in all states that use the machines. (Source A.P.)