{"id":15457,"date":"2021-01-29T01:42:37","date_gmt":"2021-01-29T01:42:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiofree.org\/?p=155836"},"modified":"2021-01-29T01:42:37","modified_gmt":"2021-01-29T01:42:37","slug":"election-politics-and-cybersecurity-whats-the-connection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2021\/01\/29\/election-politics-and-cybersecurity-whats-the-connection\/","title":{"rendered":"Election Politics and Cybersecurity: What\u2019s the Connection?"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>Image Source: Pexels<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

2020 may have been the most tumultuous election year in United States history. With the coronavirus pandemic complicating traditional election processes, we had to rely on alternative voting methods such as mail-in ballots to secure the ability for many to vote. Yet these methods were besieged by doubts<\/a> encouraged by former President Trump and others in powerful positions.<\/p>\n

Among many allegations of voter fraud and interference were the claims that electronic voting platforms were vulnerable to cyber-attacks. These claims warrant a closer look.<\/p>\n

What role does cybersecurity play in electoral politics? Is there any truth to digital voting representing a threat to election security? What are the concerns and what are the solutions?<\/p>\n

Exploring the connection between electoral politics and cybersecurity can provide these answers and help clarify the status of election security.<\/p>\n

A Phantom Menace<\/strong><\/p>\n

When the election recount of 2000 was prompted by questions around paper ballots and hanging chads, legislatures acted to bring the voting process into the new millennia. Ultimately, this created the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) which mandated upgraded voting systems federally. Now, 99% of our voting<\/a> involves a computerized process.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, however, these processes have been under attack. The Senate Intelligence Committee<\/a> investigating Russia\u2019s interference in the 2016 election found that attacks were made against election infrastructure and voting systems. Luckily, though, the report turned up no evidence of changed votes or manipulated voting machines.<\/p>\n

Even so, the threat prompted a re-evaluation of systems. As a result, election infrastructure assistance was made available to state and local governments to better protect election integrity. Yet there are still issues and concerns for the cyber safety of our election process.<\/p>\n

Before a vote even hits the ballot box, there is the threat of voter suppression<\/a> through manipulation of electronic systems and people throughout the internet. One example of this was the hack job that changed the address<\/a> of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the voter database before he arrived at the polls, forcing him to correct the error before he could vote.<\/p>\n

Then, there is the threat to voting systems themselves. All kinds of cyberattacks<\/a> could exploit vulnerabilities in potentially outdated voting machinery and software, including:<\/p>\n