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Election Security Is a Matter of National Security
. . .What would alert us to such an attack? What should we do about it? If there is reason to suspect an election result (perhaps because it’s an upset victory that defies the vast majority of pre-election polls), common sense says we should double-check the results of the election as best we can. But this is hard to do in America. Recount laws vary with each state. In states where it is possible to get a recount, it often has to be requested by one of the candidates, often at considerable expense.
In the recent election, it is fortunate that Green Party Presidential candidate Jill Stein, citing potential security breaches, recently requested a recount of the 2016 presidential vote in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania and plans to do so in Michigan. Donald Trump unexpectedly won these three states by very narrow margins, and their recount laws are favorably compared with some of the other swing states.
With the limited information we have so far, there is no convincing evidence in the reported results that the election was stolen electronically. However, there is heightened public concern because of alleged Russian hacking of campaign emails and voter registration systems. Also, Mr. Trump and his advisors broadcast repeated claims that the election would be rigged by means including fraudulent voting machines.
Now that the election is over, we must defend our voting system more effectively. It is clearly vulnerable to attack not only by foreign powers, but by criminal groups, campaigns, and motivated amateurs. If elections lose their credibility, democracy can quickly disintegrate. After every election, it is not good enough to say, “We can’t prove fraud.” In every election, we need evidence that vote counts are accurate. . .
In the recent election, it is fortunate that Green Party Presidential candidate Jill Stein, citing potential security breaches, recently requested a recount of the 2016 presidential vote in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania and plans to do so in Michigan. Donald Trump unexpectedly won these three states by very narrow margins, and their recount laws are favorably compared with some of the other swing states.
With the limited information we have so far, there is no convincing evidence in the reported results that the election was stolen electronically. However, there is heightened public concern because of alleged Russian hacking of campaign emails and voter registration systems. Also, Mr. Trump and his advisors broadcast repeated claims that the election would be rigged by means including fraudulent voting machines.
Now that the election is over, we must defend our voting system more effectively. It is clearly vulnerable to attack not only by foreign powers, but by criminal groups, campaigns, and motivated amateurs. If elections lose their credibility, democracy can quickly disintegrate. After every election, it is not good enough to say, “We can’t prove fraud.” In every election, we need evidence that vote counts are accurate. . .
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/election-security-is-a-matter-of-national-security/
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