Fourteen of the most competitive House races in November will be decided using electronic voting machines which will have no verifiable paper trail to consult in the case of a close election. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Aging Paperless Voting Machines in Hotly-Contested Districts Stoke Fears Ahead of Midterms
In addition to undermining voter confidence, warn officials, the lack of a paper trail could leave the machines vulnerable to election-meddling
More than 140 of November's congressional elections will be decided using electronic voting machines with no verifiable paper trail, leading to concerns among election officials that any hacking or tampering will be undetectable--and accurate recounts or audits in the event of extremely close races, difficult to verify.
Nationwide, Reuters reports, 14 of the 40 most competitive seats are in districts where voters will not have access to paper ballots. These races will take place in states that include Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Texas, Florida, Kansas, and Kentucky.
"Voter confidence is a really big thing, and it's the battle I worry about losing," Jonathan Marks, Pennsylvania's elections commissioner, told Reuters.
In addition to undermining voter confidence, the lack of a paper trail could leave the machines vulnerable to election-meddling, officials say. The concerns come as anxiety over the legitimacy of elections is growing, with nearly three-quarters of voters telling CNN earlier this year that they are concerned about foreign interference in the American voting process.
"There's an urgent need to move away from paperless electronic voting machines, ideally before the fall general election." --Aquene Freechild, Public Citizen
Last year, hackers at Def Con demonstrated the ease with which they could break into electronic voting machines, prompting Virginia to replace its paperless system.
Congress appropriated $380 billion to states this year to upgrade their voting systems, but many states say that even with the new funds, they will not be able to improve their machines before the 2018 election.
In a new report released Thursday, Public Citizen advised local officials to negotiate affordable prices for secure paper ballot and electronic scanner voting systems in order to replace paperless machines in time for November.
"There's an urgent need to move away from paperless electronic voting machines, ideally before the fall general election," said Aquene Freechild, co-director of Public Citizen's Democracy Is For People campaign, in a statement. "We want to make sure that election officials can make the most of their limited election security funding to get more secure paper ballot and scanner-based voting systems."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
More than 140 of November's congressional elections will be decided using electronic voting machines with no verifiable paper trail, leading to concerns among election officials that any hacking or tampering will be undetectable--and accurate recounts or audits in the event of extremely close races, difficult to verify.
Nationwide, Reuters reports, 14 of the 40 most competitive seats are in districts where voters will not have access to paper ballots. These races will take place in states that include Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Texas, Florida, Kansas, and Kentucky.
"Voter confidence is a really big thing, and it's the battle I worry about losing," Jonathan Marks, Pennsylvania's elections commissioner, told Reuters.
In addition to undermining voter confidence, the lack of a paper trail could leave the machines vulnerable to election-meddling, officials say. The concerns come as anxiety over the legitimacy of elections is growing, with nearly three-quarters of voters telling CNN earlier this year that they are concerned about foreign interference in the American voting process.
"There's an urgent need to move away from paperless electronic voting machines, ideally before the fall general election." --Aquene Freechild, Public Citizen
Last year, hackers at Def Con demonstrated the ease with which they could break into electronic voting machines, prompting Virginia to replace its paperless system.
Congress appropriated $380 billion to states this year to upgrade their voting systems, but many states say that even with the new funds, they will not be able to improve their machines before the 2018 election.
In a new report released Thursday, Public Citizen advised local officials to negotiate affordable prices for secure paper ballot and electronic scanner voting systems in order to replace paperless machines in time for November.
"There's an urgent need to move away from paperless electronic voting machines, ideally before the fall general election," said Aquene Freechild, co-director of Public Citizen's Democracy Is For People campaign, in a statement. "We want to make sure that election officials can make the most of their limited election security funding to get more secure paper ballot and scanner-based voting systems."
More than 140 of November's congressional elections will be decided using electronic voting machines with no verifiable paper trail, leading to concerns among election officials that any hacking or tampering will be undetectable--and accurate recounts or audits in the event of extremely close races, difficult to verify.
Nationwide, Reuters reports, 14 of the 40 most competitive seats are in districts where voters will not have access to paper ballots. These races will take place in states that include Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Texas, Florida, Kansas, and Kentucky.
"Voter confidence is a really big thing, and it's the battle I worry about losing," Jonathan Marks, Pennsylvania's elections commissioner, told Reuters.
In addition to undermining voter confidence, the lack of a paper trail could leave the machines vulnerable to election-meddling, officials say. The concerns come as anxiety over the legitimacy of elections is growing, with nearly three-quarters of voters telling CNN earlier this year that they are concerned about foreign interference in the American voting process.
"There's an urgent need to move away from paperless electronic voting machines, ideally before the fall general election." --Aquene Freechild, Public Citizen
Last year, hackers at Def Con demonstrated the ease with which they could break into electronic voting machines, prompting Virginia to replace its paperless system.
Congress appropriated $380 billion to states this year to upgrade their voting systems, but many states say that even with the new funds, they will not be able to improve their machines before the 2018 election.
In a new report released Thursday, Public Citizen advised local officials to negotiate affordable prices for secure paper ballot and electronic scanner voting systems in order to replace paperless machines in time for November.
"There's an urgent need to move away from paperless electronic voting machines, ideally before the fall general election," said Aquene Freechild, co-director of Public Citizen's Democracy Is For People campaign, in a statement. "We want to make sure that election officials can make the most of their limited election security funding to get more secure paper ballot and scanner-based voting systems."