Combatting Persistent Election Interference Fears
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Combatting Persistent Election Interference Fears

Bloomberg  

00:00 We rely and go to your sister in cyber readiness expertise here because we understand the misinformation concerns. And our election officials, our election infrastructure stakeholders have never been more prepared to administer a safe, secure and resilient election. What's important to note is that after the 2016 election, elections themselves became critical infrastructure, which means that we determined as a federal government with industry that elections are critical to how we function as a society. So since the beginning of 2023, the federal government has worked closely with state and local officials to conduct physical assessments of election systems, importantly, to run almost 200 exercises that prepare these individuals and these communities in these regions for different scenarios that may come into play. But what is critical about this election is we're seeing the federal government work across agencies to put out these joint announcements and to get this information out as quickly as possible.

Elections Information Election Voter  combatting  fears  officials  voter  elections  safe  voters  election  critical  state  information  interference  persistent  important

History of this topic

A torrent of Election Day disinformation is coming. Here’s how to avoid falling for it.
4 months, 3 weeks ago

A torrent of Election Day disinformation is coming. Here’s how to avoid falling for it.

Politico  

Complicating it all, of course, is a worry far closer to home: that former President Donald Trump will follow the same playbook he used in 2020, declaring victory before the outcome is clear and discrediting the results if he loses. State-backed foreign hackers targeting the election, the U.S. intelligence community has said, have therefore settled on a different strategy: exaggerating …

Parsing Election Facts From Fiction
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Parsing Election Facts From Fiction

Bloomberg  

00:00 Danielle, there is a feeling of amplified divisiveness, but is that feeling a reality? The truth is, when you're online on social media on Election Day, it's like trying to drink water from a fire hydrant. There are so many feelings, so much on circuit uncertainty, so much speculation about what is going on that it's actually very hard …

Voting officials face an 'uphill battle' to fight election lies
5 months ago

Voting officials face an 'uphill battle' to fight election lies

NPR  

Voting officials face an 'uphill battle' to fight election lies toggle caption Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP via Getty Images Last week, a video began circulating on X, formerly Twitter, purporting to show a person in Pennsylvania ripping up ballots marked for former President Donald Trump and leaving alone those marked for Vice President Harris. Sponsor Message “They're fighting an uphill battle,” said …

‘Firehose’ of election conspiracy theories floods final days of campaign
5 months ago

‘Firehose’ of election conspiracy theories floods final days of campaign

Raw Story  

In the final days of the presidential election, lies about noncitizens voting, the vulnerability of mail-in ballots and the security of voting machines are spreading widely over social media. Fanned by former President Donald Trump and notable allies such as tech tycoon Elon Musk, election disinformation is warping voters’ faith in the integrity of the democratic process, polls show, and …

Election Officials Under Fire as Early Voting Begins, Facing a Flood of False Claims
5 months, 1 week ago

Election Officials Under Fire as Early Voting Begins, Facing a Flood of False Claims

CNN  

Election officials are working to combat misinformation in real time as early voting begins in earnest. They are preparing for a deluge of false and misleading claims, and are actively trying to address issues before they go far. In critical battleground states, conservatives have been sharing uncorroborated instances of machines flipping votes, claims of widespread fraud in mail ballots and …

Election Officials Under Fire as Early Voting Begins, Facing a Flood of False Claims
5 months, 1 week ago

Election Officials Under Fire as Early Voting Begins, Facing a Flood of False Claims

CNN  

Election officials are working to combat misinformation in real time as early voting begins in earnest. They are preparing for a deluge of false and misleading claims, and are actively trying to address issues before they go far. However, the spread of misinformation continues, with claims of machine flipping votes, voter fraud, and manipulated results circulating on social media. Election …

Cybersecurity head says there’s no chance a foreign adversary can change U.S. election results
5 months, 4 weeks ago

Cybersecurity head says there’s no chance a foreign adversary can change U.S. election results

LA Times  

Foreign adversaries are ramping up disinformation campaigns to undermine confidence in U.S. election security as voters decide between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump, a top cybersecurity official says. Security for U.S. election systems has become so robust that Russia, Iran or any other foreign adversary will not be able to alter the outcome of this year’s presidential …

Arizona expects to be back at the center of election attacks. Its top officials are going on offense
1 year ago

Arizona expects to be back at the center of election attacks. Its top officials are going on offense

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The security measures are a …

Can the Government Collaborate With Big Tech to Protect Elections?
1 year ago

Can the Government Collaborate With Big Tech to Protect Elections?

Slate  

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Murthy v. Missouri today, a case that raises important questions about the line between government coercion and persuasion in its communications with Big Tech companies. While the case has sweeping implications for free speech, Big Tech, and government regulation, an amicus brief filed in the case by the Brennan Center attempts to …

Multiple threats to election systems prompt US cybersecurity agency to boost cooperation with states
1 year, 1 month ago

Multiple threats to election systems prompt US cybersecurity agency to boost cooperation with states

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The nation’s cybersecurity agency on Thursday launched a program aimed at boosting election security in the states, shoring up support for local offices and hoping to provide reassurance to voters that this year’s presidential elections will be safe and accurate. Eric Goldstein, CISA’s executive assistant director for cybersecurity, described “a really difficult cybersecurity environment” that includes “extraordinary advances …

Election Officials See A Range Of Threats In 2024, From Hostile Countries To Conspiracy Theorists
1 year, 3 months ago

Election Officials See A Range Of Threats In 2024, From Hostile Countries To Conspiracy Theorists

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING ATLANTA — For election officials preparing for the 2024 presidential election, the list of security challenges just keeps growing. The company said it was unlikely that Russia, China and Iran would sit out next year’s contest because the “stakes are simply too high.” The report said Russia remains “the most committed and capable threat to the 2024 …

Election officials see a range of threats in 2024, from hostile countries to conspiracy theorists
1 year, 3 months ago

Election officials see a range of threats in 2024, from hostile countries to conspiracy theorists

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — For election officials preparing for the 2024 presidential election, the list of security challenges just keeps growing. The company said it was unlikely that Russia, China and Iran would sit out next year’s contest because the “stakes are simply too high.” The report said Russia remains “the most committed and capable threat to the 2024 election,” with the …

2022 federal elections in the US not tainted by foreign interference, officials say
1 year, 3 months ago

2022 federal elections in the US not tainted by foreign interference, officials say

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Foreign hackers did not change vote totals or otherwise compromise the integrity of federal elections last year in the United States, according to a declassified U.S. government report made public Monday. “We have no evidence that any detected activity prevented voting, changed votes, or disrupted the ability to tally votes or to transmit election results in a timely …

2022 federal elections in the US not tainted by foreign interference, officials say
1 year, 3 months ago

2022 federal elections in the US not tainted by foreign interference, officials say

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Foreign hackers did not change …

Head of US cybersecurity agency sees progress on election security, with more work needed for 2024
1 year, 8 months ago

Head of US cybersecurity agency sees progress on election security, with more work needed for 2024

Associated Press  

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Efforts to protect the nation’s election systems have grown exponentially since the 2016 presidential election, but more is needed to defend the integrity and resiliency of the election process ahead of next year’s vote, the head of the nation’s cybersecurity agency said Tuesday. That’s on top of financially motivated, criminal ransomware groups and the potential for sophisticated …

Are the feds ignoring Trump allies’ multi-state effort to access election systems? Experts raise alarms for 2024
2 years ago

Are the feds ignoring Trump allies’ multi-state effort to access election systems? Experts raise alarms for 2024

LA Times  

A voting machine set up for Michigan’s primary election in August 2022. In a handful of states, Trump supporters convinced election officials or law enforcement to give them access to election machines, including in Mesa County, Colo.; Coffee County, Ga.; Fulton County, Pa.; and several Michigan counties. “It needs to be analyzed as a recurring pattern so that that pattern …

Mishaps, distrust spur Election Day misinformation
2 years, 4 months ago

Mishaps, distrust spur Election Day misinformation

Associated Press  

Voters casting ballots in Tuesday’s pivotal midterms grappled with misleading claims about glitchy election machines and delayed results, the final crest of a wave of misinformation that’s expected to linger long after the last votes are tallied. There was lots of other misinformation too: false claims about ballots cast by non-citizens or pre-filled registration forms; hoaxes about voting machines and …

Mishaps, distrust spur Election Day misinformation
2 years, 4 months ago

Mishaps, distrust spur Election Day misinformation

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Voters …

How election officials staved off chaos at polling places Tuesday
2 years, 4 months ago

How election officials staved off chaos at polling places Tuesday

CNN  

CNN — In many ways, the 2022 elections were an example of the plane landing safely. “It’ll be a real test of our mental toughness, but I’m much more confident today than I was yesterday in our ability to cut through the nonsense and defend democracy.” ‘This time it wasn’t a surprise’ Those in the election community said the past …

EXPLAINER: Threats to US election security grow more complex
2 years, 4 months ago

EXPLAINER: Threats to US election security grow more complex

Associated Press  

BOSTON — Top U.S. election security officials say protecting the nation’s voting systems has become increasingly challenging. With the midterm elections just days away, the director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Jen Easterly, and other officials say they have no evidence that election infrastructure has been altered by hostile actors to prevent voting or vote counting, compromise …

EXPLAINER: Why might live election results fluctuate?
2 years, 5 months ago

EXPLAINER: Why might live election results fluctuate?

Associated Press  

Why might live election results fluctuate? As local election offices across the U.S. count millions of votes on election night, they share the results with polling firms, which transmit them to viewers watching live on their TV, laptop or phone screens. The Associated Press, one of several companies that does this type of real-time vote reporting, sends thousands of local …

Voting Wars: Unprecedented efforts by pro-Trump Republicans and election officials are targeting the 2022 election
2 years, 5 months ago

Voting Wars: Unprecedented efforts by pro-Trump Republicans and election officials are targeting the 2022 election

Raw Story  

There is little doubt that pro-Trump Republicans are going to challenge voters and contest results that they do not like in 2022’s general election. “We will soon find out if American democracy is robust enough,” concluded the New Yorker’s Sue Halpern, in an October 4 report that detailed how “Republican-led legislatures and right-wing activists alike are making things more difficult …

Breaches of voting machine system raise worries for midterm election
2 years, 6 months ago

Breaches of voting machine system raise worries for midterm election

LA Times  

Sensitive voting system passwords posted online. After the Georgia breach, a group of election security experts said the unauthorized copying and sharing of election data from rural Coffee County presented “serious threats” to the November election. “You can start creating very compelling imaginary evidence.” There is no evidence to date that voting machines have been manipulated, either during the 2020 …

Election officials face security challenges before midterms
2 years, 8 months ago

Election officials face security challenges before midterms

Associated Press  

— Election officials preparing for the upcoming midterms face a myriad of threats, both foreign and domestic, as they look to protect voting systems and run a smooth election while fighting a wave of misinformation that has been undermining public confidence in U.S. elections. The nation’s top state election officials gathered Thursday for the start of their annual summer conference, …

Officials describe threats following 2020 election
3 years, 5 months ago

Officials describe threats following 2020 election

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Election officials told a congressional committee Tuesday they’ve received graphic threats to their safety since the 2020 election and warned that pressure on election workers is a threat to democracy. Experienced election administrators are increasingly leaving the field as they face unsupported accusations of manipulating election results, a bipartisan group of state election officials told the Senate Rules …

Experts warn of dangers from breach of voter system software
3 years, 7 months ago

Experts warn of dangers from breach of voter system software

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — Republican efforts questioning the outcome of the 2020 presidential race have led to voting system breaches that election security experts say pose a heightened risk to future elections. Copies of the Dominion Voting Systems software used to manage elections — from designing ballots to configuring voting machines and tallying results — were distributed at an event this month …

US election 2020 most secure in American history: Top officials
4 years, 4 months ago

US election 2020 most secure in American history: Top officials

India TV News  

A coalition of federal and state officials found no evidence that votes were compromised or altered in last week’s presidential election, rejecting unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud advanced by President Donald Trump and many of his supporters. The statement late Thursday, by government and industry officials who coordinate election cybersecurity, trumpeted the Nov. 3 election as the most secure in …

Voting Security Has Come A Long Way Since 2016 — But Vulnerabilities Remain
4 years, 4 months ago

Voting Security Has Come A Long Way Since 2016 — But Vulnerabilities Remain

NPR  

Voting Security Has Come A Long Way Since 2016 — But Vulnerabilities Remain Enlarge this image toggle caption David J. Phillip/AP David J. Phillip/AP Government officials have spent the year touting Tuesday's election as potentially the "most secure" in the nation's history. "My confidence in the security of your vote has never been higher," said Chris Krebs, the director of …

Voters' Guide To Election Security In The 2020 Presidential Campaign
4 years, 5 months ago

Voters' Guide To Election Security In The 2020 Presidential Campaign

NPR  

Voters' Guide To Election Security In The 2020 Presidential Campaign Enlarge this image toggle caption Caroline Amenabar/NPR Caroline Amenabar/NPR Foreign interference is a very old problem, but most Americans didn't used to worry much about it and the security of elections. Actually affecting ballots is difficult, and U.S. officials say it's unlikely that any foreign nation could tamper with, for …

As Trump casts doubt on ‘corrupt’ election, a government agency he created is inspiring confidence in the vote
4 years, 5 months ago

As Trump casts doubt on ‘corrupt’ election, a government agency he created is inspiring confidence in the vote

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “I have confidence that your vote is secure, that state and local election officials …

Russian Hackers Break Into 2 County Systems, Stoking Election Security Fears
4 years, 5 months ago

Russian Hackers Break Into 2 County Systems, Stoking Election Security Fears

NPR  

Russian Hackers Break Into 2 County Systems, Stoking Election Security Fears Enlarge this image toggle caption Joe Raedle/Getty Images Joe Raedle/Getty Images Updated on Oct. 23 at 5:47 a.m. The focus of the effort, from the notable Russian hacking group sometimes known as Energetic Bear or FireFly, includes "U.S. state, local, territorial, and tribal government networks, as well as aviation …

Voter beware: US tells public how to avoid election mischief
4 years, 5 months ago

Voter beware: US tells public how to avoid election mischief

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security’s cybersecurity agency have issued a series of advisories in recent weeks aimed at warning voters about problems that could surface in the election — as well as steps Americans can take to counter the foreign interference threat. That could include promoting claims of voter suppression and ballot fraud, denigrating individual …

Voter beware: US tells public how to avoid election mischief
4 years, 5 months ago

Voter beware: US tells public how to avoid election mischief

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. That could include promoting claims of voter suppression and ballot fraud, denigrating individual political …

Defending the 2020 election against hacking: 5 questions answered
4 years, 6 months ago

Defending the 2020 election against hacking: 5 questions answered

Salon  

Editor's note: Journalist Bob Woodward reports in his new book, "Rage," that the NSA and CIA have classified evidence that the Russian intelligence services placed malware in the election registration systems of at least two Florida counties in 2016, and that the malware was sophisticated and could erase voters. Four years ago, Russia managed to penetrate systems in several states …

What To Know About The Election Security Situation After Super Tuesday
5 years ago

What To Know About The Election Security Situation After Super Tuesday

NPR  

What To Know About The Election Security Situation After Super Tuesday Enlarge this image toggle caption John Edelson/AFP via Getty Images John Edelson/AFP via Getty Images The big picture on election security in the 2020 campaign after Super Tuesday: could be worse — but also could be better. And, as national security officials acknowledged before and during the vote on …

1 Simple Step Could Help Election Security. Governments Aren't Doing It
5 years, 2 months ago

1 Simple Step Could Help Election Security. Governments Aren't Doing It

NPR  

1 Simple Step Could Help Election Security. Federal officials control the keys to the ".gov" top-level domain, making it less likely that somebody could get one fraudulently and use it to fool people. Sponsor Message "The big problem today is we don't have a simple rule to tell people how to differentiate a legitimate election domain from one that was …

Election Officials To Convene Amid Historic Focus On Voting And Interference
5 years, 2 months ago

Election Officials To Convene Amid Historic Focus On Voting And Interference

NPR  

Election Officials To Convene Amid Historic Focus On Voting And Interference Enlarge this image toggle caption Rogelio V. Solis/AP Rogelio V. Solis/AP Top election officials from all 50 states are meeting in Washington this week to prepare for 2020 — a gathering amid widespread concern over whether the upcoming elections will be fair and accurate, as well as free of …

Lessons learned from 2016, but US faces new election threats
5 years, 2 months ago

Lessons learned from 2016, but US faces new election threats

Associated Press  

It’s been more than three years since Russia’s sweeping and systematic effort to interfere in U.S. elections through disinformation on social media, stolen campaign emails and attacks on voting systems. When federal officials began to suspect election systems were being targeted in 2016, they communicated with some state officials but not necessarily those overseeing elections. When Russia breached Illinois’ voter …

FBI plans to notify states about local election breaches
5 years, 2 months ago

FBI plans to notify states about local election breaches

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The FBI, in a change of policy, is committing to inform state officials if local election systems have been breached, federal officials said Thursday. California Secretary of State Alex Padilla told The Associated Press that state election officials play an important role in supporting local election officials. “It’s us at the state level that can connect dots if …

Election security is top priority: Heads of US agencies, depts
5 years, 4 months ago

Election security is top priority: Heads of US agencies, depts

India TV News  

A year ahead of the 2020 presidential elections, amidst concerns of interference by countries like China and Russia, heads of over half a dozen American agencies and departments have issued a joint statement saying election security is the country's top priority. "We remain firm in our commitment to quickly share timely and actionable information, provide support and services, and to …

US election security still vulnerable to Russia heading into 2020 - even with new funding, experts warn
5 years, 5 months ago

US election security still vulnerable to Russia heading into 2020 - even with new funding, experts warn

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy With less than five months until the first votes are …

Cyber Experts Warn Of Vulnerabilities Facing 2020 Election Machines
5 years, 6 months ago

Cyber Experts Warn Of Vulnerabilities Facing 2020 Election Machines

NPR  

Cyber Experts Warn Of Vulnerabilities Facing 2020 Election Machines Enlarge this image toggle caption Jessica McGowan/Getty Images Jessica McGowan/Getty Images A group of guys are staring into a laptop, exchanging excited giggles. Sponsor Message And less than six months before voters head to the polls in early primary states for the 2020 election, American voting is stuck in a paradox: …

US election integrity depends on security-challenged firms
6 years, 5 months ago

US election integrity depends on security-challenged firms

Associated Press  

It was the kind of security lapse that gives election officials nightmares. ES&S said the passwords were only used to access the company’s Amazon cloud account and that “there was no unauthorized access to any data or systems at any time.” All three of the top vendors declined to discuss their finances and insist that security concerns are overblown. ES&S, …

After 2016 hack, Illinois says election system secure
6 years, 5 months ago

After 2016 hack, Illinois says election system secure

Associated Press  

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois officials assured voters Tuesday that their Nov. 6 tallies “will be securely counted” following a data breach that’s part of the Justice Department’s investigation of Russian meddling in U.S. elections. Board of Elections Chairman William Cadigan and a group of state and local officials — including Illinois National Guard leaders — said in Chicago that beefed-up …

Will Your Vote Be Vulnerable On Election Day?
6 years, 10 months ago

Will Your Vote Be Vulnerable On Election Day?

NPR  

Will Your Vote Be Vulnerable On Election Day? Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who sits on the Senate intelligence committee looking into Russia's attack on the 2016 election, warned elections officials in his state not to be complacent. "Figuring out the true cost of election administration in this country is the white whale of the discipline," said Doug Chapin, an elections …

Can The U.S. Combat Election Interference If Some Don't Believe It's Happening?
7 years, 1 month ago

Can The U.S. Combat Election Interference If Some Don't Believe It's Happening?

NPR  

Combat Election Interference If Some Don't Believe It's Happening? Enlarge this image toggle caption Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images America's adversaries are circling like coyotes just beyond the light from the campfire, top intelligence officials warn — but that's not the scariest thing to some members of the Senate intelligence committee. "My problem is, I talk to people in …

Cybertraining Election Officials For This Year's Voting
7 years, 1 month ago

Cybertraining Election Officials For This Year's Voting

NPR  

Cybertraining Election Officials For This Year's Voting Enlarge this image toggle caption Pam Fessler/NPR Pam Fessler/NPR If anyone knows how easily voting can be disrupted, it's a county election supervisor in the state of Florida. Enlarge this image toggle caption Pam Fessler/NPR News Pam Fessler/NPR News Elections How To Protect The Next Election From Hacking How To Protect The Next …

5 Ways Election Interference Could (And Probably Will) Worsen In 2018 And Beyond
7 years, 2 months ago

5 Ways Election Interference Could (And Probably Will) Worsen In 2018 And Beyond

NPR  

5 Ways Election Interference Could Worsen In 2018 And Beyond Enlarge this image toggle caption Yuri Kadobnov/AP Yuri Kadobnov/AP If you thought 2016 was bad, just wait for the sequel. "I have in my office, sitting on my desk, a touchscreen computer voting machine of a type that's still used in several states that my research group hacked ten years …

4 Ways The U.S. Could Fight Future Election Interference
7 years, 6 months ago

4 Ways The U.S. Could Fight Future Election Interference

NPR  

4 Ways The U.S. Could Fight Future Election Interference Enlarge this image toggle caption Juan Labreche/AP Juan Labreche/AP Congress is back in Washington, D.C., this week to tackle a to-do list so packed it unfurls all the way down to the Anacostia River. One would support offering top secret security clearances to elections officials at the state level so they …

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