CYBER EXPERTS WARN AGAINST USING AGING VOTING MACHINES VULNERABLE TO ATTACKS

[rwb]

deleted, since it is not conspiracy theory

 

[Yttrium]

No worries, we do it all by mail-in ballots in my state.

 

[wing2000]

From 2019....(not sure if the $425 million passed); IMO, a lot more Federal money should be spent.

Congress has allocated about $425 million in new funding for election security ahead of the 2020 presidential election, a Democratic congressional source confirmed to NPR on Monday.

The funding is part of a spending package expected to be passed by the end of the week.

It also represents a compromise. Democrats in the House had originally hoped for $600 million. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., indicated earlier this year he would support $250 million.

Congress also allocated $380 million toward election security improvements in the spring of 2018. The money, in both instances, is given via grants to the states, which become responsible for deciding how it is spent.

The article also notes:
Although Congress has agreed to support elections infrastructure around the nation, it does so in large, unpredictable chunks as opposed to predictable year-over-year appropriations — which many election officials would prefer.

One reason for that is partisanship: Many Republicans argue that because states bear the responsibility for running their own elections, that means paying their own way as well.

Many Democrats in Congress say they favor a more federal system that would include more regulation of security, protocols and equipment, as well as annual funding from the federal government.

Congress Allocates $425 Million For Election Security In New Legislation

 

[rwb]

No worries, we do it all by mail-in ballots in my state.

That just means someone runs your ballot through the machine for you!

 

[rwb]

From 2019....(not sure if the $425 million passed); IMO, a lot more Federal money should be spent.

Congress has allocated about $425 million in new funding for election security ahead of the 2020 presidential election, a Democratic congressional source confirmed to NPR on Monday.

The funding is part of a spending package expected to be passed by the end of the week.

It also represents a compromise. Democrats in the House had originally hoped for $600 million. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., indicated earlier this year he would support $250 million.

Congress also allocated $380 million toward election security improvements in the spring of 2018. The money, in both instances, is given via grants to the states, which become responsible for deciding how it is spent.

The article also notes:
Although Congress has agreed to support elections infrastructure around the nation, it does so in large, unpredictable chunks as opposed to predictable year-over-year appropriations — which many election officials would prefer.

One reason for that is partisanship: Many Republicans argue that because states bear the responsibility for running their own elections, that means paying their own way as well.

Many Democrats in Congress say they favor a more federal system that would include more regulation of security, protocols and equipment, as well as annual funding from the federal government.

Congress Allocates $425 Million For Election Security In New Legislation

America is a Constitutional Republic for a reason. The framers of the Constitution recognized the fact that states, not the federal government should have oversight of the election process. Because we must keep our independence from governmental control, if we wish to be country of the people and for the people, not government. Taking federal monies means abiding by federal rule. I believe our founding fathers have it right, and that elections by state is the only way our country will be ruled by the people and not overlords, which is exactly what would happen if our federal government ever takes control of national elections.

 

[wing2000]

America is a Constitutional Republic for a reason. The framers of the Constitution recognized the fact that states, not the federal government should have oversight of the election process. Because we must keep our independence from governmental control, if we wish to be country of the people and for the people, not government. Taking federal monies means abiding by federal rule. I believe our founding fathers have it right, and that elections by state is the only way our country will be ruled by the people and not overlords, which is exactly what would happen if our federal government ever takes control of national elections.

I submit the framers never imagined the internet age wherein foreign adversaries could mount cyber attacks on our country - infrastructure, defense systems, elections systems. It is the role of the federal government to defend against foreign attack....

 

[Yttrium]

That just means someone runs your ballot through the machine for you!

So convenient. No wait lines. I sure don't miss driving to a polling center.

 

[Pommer]

That just means someone runs your ballot through the machine for you!

The State of Oregon conducts their elections through the mails.

 

[essentialsaltes]

The linked report is a good one.

One of the worst problems (in my view) are the machines that do not produce a paper record. Without that, obviously if totals were somehow nefariously changed, there would be no original record to recount. Fortunately, progress has been made since the last time the Brennan Center put out its report:

In 2012, for example, the majority of Election Day voters in some or all counties in 16 states voted on direct recording electronic (DRE) voting machines that do not produce a voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT). Security experts have long identified DREs as a unique security risk. By 2022, jurisdictions in only six states (Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Texas) relied on those machines as their principal voting equipment

 

[essentialsaltes]

That just means someone runs your ballot through the machine for you!

You need to distinguish between voting machines, where a voter makes selections and votes, and a tabulator that (for example) optically scans ballots and adds 'em up.

Tabulator results can be (and always are to some extent) checked and audited and hand-counted.

If a voting machine doesn't produce a paper ballot, there's nothing to hand-count.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Another site linked in the report has a neat map.

Green is paper ballots marked by hand by the voter.
Yellow is paper ballots marked by machine, but not counted by the machine.
The deepest Red is no paper ballots and the machine records the vote.

 

[rwb]

I submit the framers never imagined the internet age wherein foreign adversaries could mount cyber attacks on our country - infrastructure, defense systems, elections systems. It is the role of the federal government to defend against foreign attack....

I agree protecting the homeland from foreign adversaries is the job of the federal government. But the last thing we want is for our elections to become federalized. If that ever happens whatever party happens to be in power at that time will never be defeated.

 

[rwb]

So convenient. No wait lines. I sure don't miss driving to a polling center.

This is how drop boxes and mail in ballots effected 2020 election.

Have you ever heard of the movie "2000 Mules" created by Dinesh D'Souza?

GAME OVER! (2000 Mules Trailer) (rumble.com)

Biggs calls for hearings into election fraud claims in 2000 Mules | Washington Examiner

 

[essentialsaltes]

"2000 Mules" created by Dinesh D'Souza?

A felony conviction for election crimes doesn't actually make him an expert on elections.

Actual election experts and technology experts don't think much of his film's claims.

 

[rwb]

A felony conviction for election crimes doesn't actually make him an expert on elections.

Actual election experts and technology experts don't think much of his film's claims.

Why would Biggs waste time and money calling for hearings on election fraud based on the documentary? Do you classify him a conspiracy theorist?

 

[Yttrium]

This is how drop boxes and mail in ballots effected 2020 election.

Ha ha. Mail-in ballots have been working great here for quite some time now. It's a great way to make sure no votes are left out due to the hustle and bustle of election day. More states should get with the program.

 

[rwb]

Ha ha. Mail-in ballots have been working great here for quite some time now. It's a great way to make sure no votes are left out due to the hustle and bustle of election day. More states should get with the program.

You know this because there have been full forensic audits? Mail-in ballots may indeed be working, but how do you know they truly reflect voters' intention if there have been no audits? Both parties acknowledge that mail in voting is rife with fraud.

 

[Yttrium]

You know this because there have been full forensic audits? Mail-in ballots may indeed be working, but how do you know they truly reflect voters' intention if there have been no audits? Both parties acknowledge that mail in voting is rife with fraud.

You know, it's routine to have recounts and audits when the votes are close. This is not some novel idea that came up recently. And no, our ballots are not rife with fraud. The tiny amount of fraud that happens is dealt with harshly.

 

[Nithavela]

In germany we do all offline. Paper ballots, 100 % hand-counted.

You need a lot more election helpers, but thats the price you pay for a functioning democracy.

 

[comana]

You know this because there have been full forensic audits? Mail-in ballots may indeed be working, but how do you know they truly reflect voters' intention if there have been no audits? Both parties acknowledge that mail in voting is rife with fraud.

How would audits identify voter intentions? Ballots have no voter identification on them.