Matt Blaze2d ago

RE: https://esq.social/@SuffolkLITLab/116229521620498862

The ProPublica piece is kind of a mess - it doesn't even mention CISA by name - but some of the issues are concerning. In particular, the proposals are extremely vague.

They want to ban "voting machines" (under what authority?). Does that mean touchscreen DREs? Fine, that's what virtually all technical experts have recommended for a while. Or do they mean any electronic tabulation, including optical scan paper ballots (widely used and amenable to reliable post-election audits)?

Show threadMatt Blaze2d ago
One gets the impression from the article that the current CISA leadership is focused more on re-litigating 2020 than on meaningfully helping states improve their election security, but hopefully they can be nudged toward advocating practical, proven, high-impact reforms, like default use of hand-marked paper ballots and routine post-election risk-limiting audits.
Show threadMatt Blaze2d ago
It's also worth noting that DHS/CISA has essentially no authority over elections, which are run by states. Their role is advisory, particularly recommending best practices and disseminating threat intelligence.
Show threadMatt Blaze2d ago

Also, it's simply too late to make any major changes to election systems this year. Primaries have already started, and the general election is in eight months.

I think it's reasonable to suspect that the play here is simply to set the stage for casting doubt on election outcomes that they regard as unfavorable.

Show threadMatt Blaze2d ago

Once again:

- There are security weaknesses in parts of US election systems, particularly those that use paperless touchscreen voting machines, and we should absolutely address them.

- Fortunately, there is no evidence to date that these technical weaknesses have ever been exploited to alter a US election outcome.

- We know how to secure elections! Paper ballots, optical scanners, post-election risk-limiting audits.

- There's been a great deal of progress, but there's still work to do.

Show threadEka A.2d ago
@mattblaze
There are people in TX who recorded the touchscreen voting machines recording votes to candidates they didn't touch the buttons for.
Show threadMatthew Miller

@Eka_FOOF_A @mattblaze

Eka, you should read this https://www.npr.org/2016/10/26/499450796/some-machines-are-flipping-votes-but-that-doesnt-mean-theyre-rigged

Mar 15 at 4:15pmWeb