Yearly Archives: 2023

Georgia senators are demanding answers about election security, questioning why the state’s voting system won’t be upgraded until after the 2024 elections and criticizing Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. They suggested quicker software updates, an elimination of QR codes on Georgia ballots, security markings on every ballot, and the introduction of paper ballots filled out by hand instead of by voting touchscreens. State election officials responded that Georgia’s election technology is secure from tampering as they test equipment ahead of next year’s elections and plan audits afterward. Read Article

Idaho: A Canyon County voting machine accepted a photocopied ballot, but officials aren’t worried – here’s why | Erin Banks Rusby/Idaho Press

In preparation for the upcoming election, Canyon County conducts a “logic and accuracy” test to verify the proper functioning of ballot scanners. During a recent test, a member of the public suggested running photocopied ballots through the machine, which surprisingly were accepted. This raised concerns about the security of the voting process. Secretary of State Phil McGrane clarified that only two counties in Idaho use unique identifiers on ballots, and others like Canyon County have alternative safeguards to prevent duplicate submissions. County officials emphasized the multiple layers of security in place, including the scrutiny of poll workers, making it highly unlikely for a voter to submit duplicated ballots. While unique identifiers offer traceability, concerns about voter privacy and secure ballots come into play. Further discussions with election officials and voting equipment providers are planned to address any potential gaps in the system. Read Article

Michigan House advances protections for poll workers, restrictions on AI in political ads | Kyle Davidson/Michigan Advance

The Michigan House of Representatives passed bills aimed at safeguarding elections and election officials. House Bills 4129 and 4130 establish penalties for intimidating or obstructing election officials in the performance of their duties. Violations would range from misdemeanors with fines and imprisonment to felony charges. The legislation defines election officials and specifies what constitutes intimidation. The House also approved bipartisan bills requiring disclaimers on political ads that use artificial intelligence, with penalties for deceptive practices. The bills will move to the Senate Committee on Elections and Ethics for further consideration. These measures come in response to threats and intimidation faced by election workers, with 1 in 3 officials having experienced such incidents, according to a survey by the Brennan Center for Justice. Read Article

Ohio: Misinformation is flowing ahead of abortion vote. Some is coming from a legislative website. | Julie Carr Smyth and Christine Fernando/Associated Press

The official government website of the Republican-controlled Ohio Senate is featuring inflammatory language opposing a reproductive rights measure, which is typically seen in contentious campaign initiatives. The messaging, warning of extreme scenarios related to the measure, is not only promoted by anti-abortion groups but is also present on the government website. This content, published on the “On The Record” blog, is impacting online search results for information about the reproductive rights measure, Issue 1, which is set to be voted on by Ohio citizens on November 7. The blog is presented as an “online newsroom” providing perspectives not covered by mainstream news outlets, and includes content from Republican state senators and conservative figures. Experts consider this effort by Republican lawmakers to be unprecedented, as it aims to influence public perception through a government platform, potentially misguiding voters seeking objective information. Read Article

Pennsylvanians Are About to Decide Who Will Oversee the 2024 Elections | Daniel Nichanian/Bolts

The upcoming Nov. 7 elections in Pennsylvania’s counties, particularly Bucks County, hold significant implications for voting accessibility. Since county officials in Pennsylvania have broad authority over election procedures, including mail-in voting protocols, the outcomes will determine policies like ballot curing (allowing voters to correct minor mistakes on mail ballots). The races may influence whether procedures facilitating mail voting, such as drop boxes, will remain in place. Republicans gaining control could potentially roll back these measures, impacting the 2024 elections. Advocates are urging for statewide mandates, like House Bill 847, to ensure uniform voting standards across counties and safeguard voters’ access to the ballot. Read Article

Texas: Poll worker heart attack in Williamson County highlights poll watcher tensions | Natalia Contreras/Votebeat

A poll worker in Williamson County, Texas, initially had a heart attack while working at an early voting site. County officials initially blamed a voter fraud activist and poll watcher, Laura Pressley, for the incident, accusing her of causing the worker’s distress. However, after Pressley threatened legal action, Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell Jr. retracted the accusation and issued an apology. The incident highlights growing tensions between partisan poll watchers and election workers, escalating since the 2020 election, with baseless accusations and harassment making it difficult for election workers to do their jobs effectively. Pressley, a vocal opponent of electronic voting systems, has a history of suing counties and election officials over perceived violations of the Texas Election Code. She applied for the role of Williamson County elections administrator after the previous official’s resignation but was not selected. Read Article

A Virginia election chief says the ‘big lie’ ended her career. She’s fighting back. | Justin Jouvenal/The Washington Post

Christine Gibbons, a voting registrar in Virginia, faced harassment and allegations of fraud after the 2020 election. Accused of corruption and taken to court over baseless claims, Gibbons ultimately lost her position when the Republican-controlled board decided not to reappoint her. She filed a lawsuit, asserting that the board violated her First Amendment rights by removing her for partisan reasons. Legal experts suggest her case could set a precedent, as more election workers fight back against false allegations inspired by Trump’s claims of voter fraud. This comes amid a broader wave of election officials facing threats and intimidation, exacerbating a growing crisis in the profession. Reads Article

Washington: For the second year in a row, three counties reportedly go against state election security suggestion | Ellen Dennis/The Spokesman-Review

A week before elections, Washington state election officials are struggling to persuade three counties to implement a security device called an Albert sensor, which uses artificial intelligence to monitor network traffic for suspicious activity. While 36 out of 39 counties have installed the Albert sensor, Grant, Ferry, and Lincoln counties have not, citing concerns about its effectiveness and cost. The Secretary of State has expressed worry about these counties ignoring state and federal advice regarding the sensors, emphasizing that they are the Homeland Security standard for internet security. The sensors, created by the Center for Internet Security, do not block threats but send alerts when suspicious activity is detected. Read Article

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker assigns impeachment articles against elections chief Meagan Wolfe to committee | Molly Beck Jessie Opoien/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has referred impeachment articles against Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe to the Assembly Committee on Government Accountability and Oversight, following a campaign by a group threatening Vos with recall or primary challenges if he didn’t advance the articles. This move comes after Vos initially favored a legislative process to hire a new administrator. The ads targeting Wolfe, which falsely claim she implemented policies decided by the agency’s panel of commissioners and should be removed, were launched by the Wisconsin Election Committee, Inc., a group led by individuals with connections to past challenges against Vos and promoting false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election. Read Article

A Key Piece of Voting Technology Isn’t Federally Tested. That May Change | Eric Geller/The Messenger

The staff of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) has proposed the establishment of a testing and certification program for electronic poll books, which are tablet computers used by poll workers to verify voters’ eligibility. These e-poll books, though vital to the election process, currently lack federal security regulations. If implemented, this program would ensure that e-poll books meet privacy, security, and accessibility standards. While the proposal is being considered, any formal testing program for e-poll books won’t be in place for several years, likely missing the 2024 presidential election. This delay is due to the need for refining testing requirements, creating operational guidelines, and providing manufacturers with guidance for compliance. Read Article

Georgia Bureau of Investigation report provides new details in South Georgia county 2020 elections breach | Greg Bluestein and Mark Niesse/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has been conducting a year-long investigation into alleged election interference in Coffee County, separate from Fulton County prosecutors who charged Donald Trump and others with racketeering related to the same incident. The GBI’s nearly 400-page report provides additional details on the scheme, which involved copying election software, distributing sensitive data, and attempting to undermine the legitimacy of Georgia’s 2020 election results. The report highlights meetings between Trump allies, including Sidney Powell and Lin Wood, at Wood’s Tomotley Plantation in South Carolina, which was described as a “central hub for voter fraud information processing.” Additionally, the report identifies unindicted co-conspirators and sheds light on the involvement of the Atlanta-based data firm SullivanStrickler. Attorney General Chris Carr is reviewing the report, and his office has stated they will “continue to coordinate” with the GBI. Read Article

National: Schumer endorses guardrails for AI use in elections, considers candidate pledge | Carolina Nihill/FedScoop

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that guidelines for political candidates’ use of artificial intelligence (AI) are in development and might be implemented for the 2024 elections. Speaking at a summit, Schumer emphasized the need for guardrails to prevent AI from deceiving voters or disrupting electoral processes. He referred to a suggestion by Washington Post columnist Geoffrey A. Fowler, proposing an election pledge for candidates to label AI-generated communications and refrain from using AI to misrepresent competitors or confuse voters. Schumer stressed the importance of establishing AI guardrails ahead of the 2024 presidential election to ensure election integrity and combat misinformation. Read Article

Mississippi Secretary of State, other state websites go offline for several hours less than two weeks before election | Mississippi Today

The Mississippi Secretary of State’s website, along with several other state agency websites, experienced an outage for several hours due to an “unexpected issue,” just 12 days before the 2023 statewide election. Basic voting information, such as polling place locations, sample ballots, and campaign finance reports, was inaccessible during this time. The Mississippi Information Technology Services agency, responsible for managing the state’s website servers, reported that the situation was not related to cybersecurity or data integrity concerns. Last year, on Election Day in 2022, the Secretary of State’s website was down for several hours due to a cyberattack, but officials assured that the election system remained secure and uncompromised. Read Article

Georgia: Prosecutors are focused on Coffee County in Trump’s 2020 election case. Here’s why. | Sarah D. Wire/Los Angeles Times

In the final days before Congress was set to certify the 2020 presidential election results, allies of then-President Trump, including former national security advisor Michael Flynn, considered drafting an executive order to seize voting machines as a last-ditch effort to overturn the results. One of the drafts mentioned Coffee County, Georgia, where officials had refused to certify the election results, as a basis for the seizure. White House lawyers, alarmed by the idea, managed to dissuade Trump from signing the order. Later, Trump attorney Rudolph Giuliani assured Trump that they would gain voluntary access to Georgia voting systems, making the order unnecessary. Ultimately, efforts to obtain evidence of fraud from the machines proved unsuccessful, and Biden was inaugurated on January 20, 2021. Read Article

Pennsylvanians Are About to Decide Who Will Oversee the 2024 Elections | Daniel Nichanian/Bolts

Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie, a Democrat, played a pivotal role in implementing voter-friendly measures during the 2020 elections, including the installation of ballot drop boxes and ballot curing (allowing voters to correct minor mistakes on their mail ballots). These measures were in response to the challenges posed by the pandemic and faced opposition, including a lawsuit from Donald Trump, which Bucks County ultimately won. The upcoming elections in Bucks County will determine whether Democrats maintain control of the commission, as their majority helped establish a suburban firewall against Trump’s efforts to challenge election results. The discretion granted to county officials in Pennsylvania has led to a diverse set of election procedures, with Democrats generally advocating for expanded mail voting options and Republicans often opposing such measures. Read Article

Arizona prosecutors ask about 2020 pressure campaign by Trump allies | Yvonne Wingett Sanchez/The Wahington Post

The Arizona Attorney General’s investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election results is now focusing on the pressure exerted on local officials by key allies of former President Donald Trump. Specifically, investigators have interviewed current and former Republican members of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, who certified the 2020 presidential election results, and former House Speaker Rusty Bowers, who testified last year about Trump and Rudy Giuliani’s efforts to investigate unproven allegations of voter fraud. This shift in focus could signal an expansion of the investigation, which initially focused on 11 Arizona Republicans who falsely claimed to be the state’s legitimate electors. The investigation aims to uncover the behind-the-scenes efforts to halt vote-counting and delay the certification of election results. Read Article

Wisconsin judge rules that GOP-controlled Senate’s vote to fire top elections official had no effect | Harm Venhuizen/Associated Press

A Dane County judge ruled that the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Senate’s vote to remove the state’s nonpartisan top elections official, Administrator Meagan Wolfe, last month was legally ineffective, and lawmakers are barred from ousting her during an ongoing lawsuit. Wolfe will continue to serve as the head of the Wisconsin Elections Commission while a decision is pending on whether elections commissioners are legally obligated to appoint someone for the Senate to confirm. This ruling comes after Senate Republicans voted in September to remove Wolfe, a move contested by Democrats and nonpartisan attorneys who argued that the Senate lacked the authority for such a vote at that time. The judge’s decision follows a change in stance by Republican legislative leaders, who now assert that their vote to fire Wolfe was merely symbolic and held no legal weight. Read Article

California: Voting Rights Advocates Ask Secretary of State To Monitor Shasta County’s Upcoming Elections | Annelise Pierce/Shasta Scout

October 26, 2023

Six nonprofit voting rights advocacy groups have formally requested California’s Secretary of State, Shirley Weber, to oversee and support the upcoming elections in Shasta County, California. They specifically ask for in-person monitoring during both the November 2023 and March 2024 elections. The coalition of advocacy organizations expressed serious concerns about the stability of Shasta County’s election system and highlighted misinformation and disinformation circulating in public meetings, potentially undermining voters’ confidence. They pointed out the diversion of time and resources from the Shasta County Elections Office staff due to extraordinary pressures, potentially endangering the smooth administration of upcoming elections and voters’ rights. The advocates called for Secretary Weber to provide necessary assistance to the county’s Registrar of Voters and to support voter education efforts in Shasta County. Read Article

Arizona: Previously hidden Cyber Ninjas texts revealed in records lawsuit over ‘audit’ | Robert Anglen and Ryan Randazzo/Arizona Republic

October 24, 2023

The CEO of Cyber Ninjas, Doug Logan, attempted to conceal more than 1,400 text messages which have now been decrypted, revealing communications between him and Michigan lawyer Stefanie Lambert regarding the Arizona Senate’s election “audit”. The messages discuss topics such as funding for the audit, voting machines, and concerns raised by then-Senate President Karen Fann about what information should be made public. Lambert criticized Fann’s preference for secrecy, highlighting the potential consequences for the audit effort. The messages also contain a link to a fundraising site, raising questions about the transparency of the funding process. Read Article

District of Columbia Board of Elections breach may include entire voter roll | Charlotte Nihill/CyberScoop

October 24, 2023

The breach of D.C. voter data may have been more extensive than initially thought, potentially encompassing the entire voter roll, according to a statement from the District of Columbia Board of Elections. Initially, it was believed that about 600,000 lines of data were affected, but it has now been revealed that the breached database included a copy of the full voter roll. The extent of the attacker’s access, including potentially sensitive information like social security numbers and driver’s license numbers, remains unclear. The board has engaged the cybersecurity firm Mandiant to investigate the incident, and it has pledged to release the results of the investigation and reach out to all registered voters affected. The board’s understanding and public disclosure of the breach have evolved since its discovery, initially indicating a limited impact, but now warning that the entire voting population of the city may be affected. Read Article

Pennsylvania: Turnover has plagued local election offices since 2020. Luzerne County is trying to recover | Christina A. Cassidy/Associated Press

October 23, 2023

The 2022 midterm elections in Pennsylvania’s Luzerne County were marred by an administrative oversight: a paper shortage at polling places due to a wrong order made years ago. This incident underscores the larger issue of a national crisis caused by an exodus of local election directors and staff following the 2020 presidential election, leading to institutional knowledge gaps and inexperience in crucial roles. This wave of retirements and resignations has created a vacuum, where even minor mistakes related to voting or ballot counting can be exploited by conspiracy theorists. In Luzerne County, the turnover has contributed to ongoing problems and increased voter doubt about elections, especially after persistent falsehoods regarding the 2020 presidential contest. The situation reflects a precarious spot for election integrity nationwide, with increased pressure on election officials and the need for effective training and support systems. Read Article

National: Russia working to undermine trust in elections globally, US intelligence says | AFP/The Guardian

October 23, 2023

According to a US intelligence report shared with around 100 countries, Russia is using its spy network, state-controlled media, and social media to erode public trust in elections worldwide. The report highlights that Russia conducted a concerted effort between 2020 and 2022 to undermine public confidence in at least 11 elections across nine democracies, including the United States. An additional 17 democracies were targeted through subtler methods involving Russian messaging and social media activity. The report asserts that Russia’s objective is to sow instability within democratic societies and depict democratic elections as dysfunctional, resulting in illegitimate governments. The US recognizes its own vulnerability to this threat, particularly evidenced in attempts to undermine confidence in the 2020 US election and Covid-19 pandemic response. Read Article

National: Alarms sound over high turnover among election workers | Julia Mueller/The Hill

Experts are warning of potential chaos and confusion in the November 2024 presidential election due to high turnover among local election officials and workers, largely driven by threats and scrutiny associated with false claims of voter fraud. This exodus could lead to understaffed and inexperienced teams grappling with ongoing conspiracies and misinformation, with some overseeing a high-stakes presidential election for the first time. Concerns are raised about the loss of experience, potential for mistakes, and increased suspicion around the electoral process, with experts highlighting the need for a committed and well-supported workforce in these roles. Additionally, the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology and deep-fake videos is seen as a potential source of false information in the upcoming election. Read Article

The Georgia vote machine theft is a threat to the 2024 election | Clif Albright, Richard DeMillo and Susan Greenhalgh/Slate

The article highlights a concerning multistate plot involving the theft of voting system software, which began in Coffee County, Georgia, and allegedly involves Trump allies. The stolen software was reportedly distributed across state lines and international borders, potentially enabling hackers and malicious actors to exploit vulnerabilities in future elections. The article emphasizes the lack of comprehensive investigation into the extent of this breach, particularly in Georgia, where officials downplay the security threats posed by the stolen software. The authors call for a federal investigation to address the serious threat posed to elections and national security. Read Article

National: The drive to hand count ballots is growing. The GOP could stop it. | Jessica Huseman/Votebeat

The movement to hand-count ballots, particularly championed by far-right groups, is causing significant issues, particularly in conservative areas. The push for manual vote tallies is leading to disenfranchisement in these regions due to the costly, labor-intensive nature of the practice. An example is Kerr County in Texas, where a Republican commissioner is leading the charge, resulting in disruptions and resignations among election administrators. Similar problems have emerged in Cochise County, Arizona, Nye County, Nevada, and Shasta County, California. Even fellow Republicans are reconsidering their support for hand counting, recognizing its problematic outcomes. Read Article

National: Republican states swore off a voting tool. Now they’re scrambling to recreate it | Miles Parks/NPR

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen has introduced the Alabama Voter Integrity Database (AVID), a program that aims to monitor voter movements, deaths, and potential illegal voting across states. Allen claims AVID is the first of its kind, but it appears to mirror the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a bipartisan, cross-state partnership for voter list maintenance. However, Allen, along with several other Republican secretaries of state, withdrew from ERIC earlier this year, citing conspiracy theories. This move has prompted a scattered effort on the right to recreate a system similar to ERIC, which experts and election officials doubt will be as effective. These new initiatives may lack the necessary data for reliable voter list comparison, and they are viewed as less likely to fully replicate ERIC, which was a carefully engineered and well-established system. The new agreements do not include sharing critical driver’s license data, which was a key component of ERIC’s accuracy and reliability. Read Article

National: Election Integrity in the Age of Generative AI: Fact vs. Fiction | Carl Smith/Governing

The rise of AI-generated content poses a new challenge in the fight against election misinformation. Election officials, already stretched thin, lack the resources and expertise to combat AI-generated disinformation effectively. While some states have taken steps to address this issue, the potential for AI to accelerate existing threats to election integrity is a concern. AI could be used to create misleading websites, generate robocalls, and produce deepfake videos, further undermining trust in the electoral process. The exponential growth in AI capabilities adds an extra layer of complexity, making it difficult to predict or mitigate potential threats. The need for robust strategies to counter AI-generated disinformation in elections is becoming increasingly urgent. Read Article

Opinion: Security and Reliability Concerns Around Internet Voting Outweigh Benefits | Jalisa Giles/Public Citizen

In the US, reputable federal entities that oversee cybersecurity and elections — including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Election Assistance Commission (EAC), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) — have made clear that internet voting cannot be conducted securely at this time, citing the risk of potential hacking, manipulation, and data breaches Read Article

Arizona: Hand count all ballots? It’s possible, but Cochise County ignored the rules, court says | Mary Jo Pitzl/Arizona Republic

The Arizona Court of Appeals has ruled that Cochise County supervisors and the county recorder lacked the authority to attempt a full hand count of all ballots cast in the 2022 general election. The three-judge panel affirmed a previous decision by a Pima County Superior Court judge, stating that the county did not follow the proper procedures outlined in state law, which mandates a gradual, multi-step process before a jurisdiction-wide hand-count audit can occur. The ruling could impact the county’s plans to hand count future elections, including the upcoming presidential race next year. The case was brought by the Arizona Alliance of Retired Americans and a Cochise County resident, and while the court rejected their request for the county to cover their attorney fees, it did order the county to cover their court costs. Read Article

Arizona: Federal appeals court tosses Kari Lake’s suit vs. voting machines | Howard Fischer/Tucson Daily Star