What will Democrats' election security task force recommend?
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TASKING A TASK FORCE — House Democrats on Thursday vowed that a new election security task force would develop recommendations to help harden the country’s election systems before Russia’s cyber agents return in 2018.
The new panel — which will hold hearings, collect data on state-level election hacks, and interview election officials and cybersecurity experts — is likely welcome news for those who have been raising red flags for months that the nation must take action or risk leaving the electoral process exposed to even more devastating hacks in 2018 and 2020.
Various digital security experts, numerous lawmakers and some former Obama administration cyber officials have called on the federal government to earmark financial aid for state and local election offices to replace aging machines or upgrade their digital defenses. Many of these specialists are adamant that the country needs to invest in paper balloting systems or electronic voting machines with a physical paper trail. And voting integrity advocates say a post-election audit would help ensure that potential vote manipulation doesn’t go unnoticed.
In a study released Thursday, the Brennan Center for Justice tried to put a price tag on some of these suggestions. The report estimates that it would cost between $130 million and $400 million to replace all paperless voting machines. The center also estimated that a nationwide audit would cost between $1 million and $5 million annually.
And on Capitol Hill, lawmakers pushed for some of these changes on Thursday. Rep. Derek Kilmer sent DHS Secretary John Kelly a letter noting that former DHS chief Jeh Johnson supports a bipartisan bill that would set up a federal cyber grant program for states. Elsewhere, Rep. Mike Quigley introduced an amendment to an appropriations bill that would preserve and fund the Election Assistance Commission, which offers states voluntary assistance on running elections. Republicans have looked to ax the EAC, arguing it is outdated, but proponents say the commission can help states digitally secure their elections.
The task force’s timeline is unclear and its first meetings have not yet been set. For now, only Democrats are involved, but House Homeland Security Committee ranking member Bennie Thompson — who will lead the group with Rep. Robert Brady, the House Administration Committee’s top Democrat — said Republicans were “absolutely welcome” to join. Read our full story here.
By: Cory Bennett, Martin Matishak, and Eric Geller
Source: Politico Morning Cybersecurity