Russian hackers tried to access Washington states voting systems, officials say

[MelissaB]

Russian hackers tried to access Washington state’s voting systems, officials say

OLYMPIA — Russian hackers tried unsuccessfully to access Washington’s election systems before the 2016 general election, according to the state Secretary of State’s Office.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Friday informed state Secretary of State Kim Wyman of the attempt, according to a news release by Wyman’s office.

Wyman says the notice from the federal agency “confirmed information her office previously shared with federal security officials last year,” according to the release.

“The security protocols we already have in place made us aware of these attempted intrusions by Russian IP addresses throughout the course of the 2016 election,” Wyman said in statement.

More: http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/russian-hackers-tried-to-access-washington-states-voting-systems-officials-say/

[diva77]

1. vague article - does not distinguish between voter registration and voting machines

I wish reporters would become more educated about the voting process so that they could be effective as the "fourth estate" that has been absent with the ushering in of computerized voter registration, computerized voting and computerized tabulation.

[Ms. Toad]

4. Thank you.

I just made a similar post in a thread about hacking Wisconsin's election results when the article discussed an attempted hack of the voter registration database.

One may influence the other. Hacking voter registration systems only influences the pool of potential voters. But they are not the same thing, Hacking the voter registration system does not alter the votes of those who actually cast a ballot.

[fierywoman]

2. WA has paper ballots, so, no voting machines. Machines to count the ballots, I assume.

[HeiressofBickworth]

5. And our paper ballots

are by mail. One can cast a ballot by mail or by depositing the ballot in the local drop-off secured box, similar to drop-off postal boxes. But, yes, the actual tabulation of the ballots is done by running them through a counting machine. That machine would be the point of most vulnerability.

[haveahart]

3. Didn't they turn down cyber security help from the Obama administration"