Election officials in Washington continue to bolster the state’s elections systems against cyber threats that could disrupt voting or cause citizens to lose faith in the results.
The day before county elections offices began mailing out more than 4.2 million ballots for the November 6th general election, state officials insisted Tuesday that Washington’s voting system was among the nation’s most secure. Sensors to detect suspicious activity have been installed in voting systems across Washington’s 39 counties, and officials have received extra security training.
Unlike some states that use electronic voting, Washington’s vote-by-mail system uses paper ballots that can be checked if any questions about results arise. The machines, which count the ballots, are not tied to the internet, making them safe from hackers. Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman isn’t aware of any threats beyond what elections offices normally receive, but said officials are nonetheless prepared.
The Washington National Guard has conducted two of three planned assessments to check for weak spots in the voting systems.
While the state is confident the voter-registration and vote-counting systems are safe, officials suggested voters who can check their registration information online do so before the election to ensure it hasn’t been changed. Washington voters can do that by going to the Secretary of State’s website. (AP, Spokesman-Review)
