US Prez poll: Analysis shows 2020 elections still vulnerable to hacking

Washington, August 13 

More than one in 10 voters could cast ballots on paperless voting machines in the 2020 general election, according to a new analysis, leaving their ballots vulnerable to hacking.

A study released by the Brennan Centre for Justice at NYU School of Law on Tuesday evaluates the state of the country’s election security six months before the New Hampshire primary and concludes that much more needs to be done.

While there has been significant progress by states and the federal government since Russian agents targeted US state election systems ahead of the 2016 presidential election, the analysis notes that many states have not taken all of the steps needed to ensure that doesn’t happen again.

The report also notes that around a third of all local election jurisdictions were using voting machines that are at least a decade old, despite recommendations they be replaced after 10 years.

The Associated Press reported last month that many election systems are running on old Windows 7 software that will soon be outdated. “We should replace antiquated equipment, and paperless equipment in particular, as soon as possible,” the report recommends.

The analysis comes as Congress is debating how much federal government help is needed to ensure state election systems are protected.

Democrats have put forward legislation to require paper balloting, give more assistance to the states and give them more dollars to make improvements. But some Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, are wary of too much federal intervention.

Russian President Vladimir Putin denied that his government interfered in the 2016 US election despite evidence to the contrary. — AP

Voting machines susceptible to attack

• Using voter registration and turnout data, the Brennan Centre estimates that as many as 12% of voters, or around 16 million people, will vote on paperless equipment in November 2020
• In the last presidential election, 14 states used paperless voting machines as the primary polling place equipment in at least some counties and towns. In 2020 that number will drop to no more than eight
• Security experts have said that paper-based systems provide better security because they create a record that voters can review before casting their ballots and election workers can use them to audit results