Protecting the 2016 Elections from Cyber and Voting Machine Attacks

Voting is the means by which Americans express their opinions about their government. It provides Americans with the opportunity to affirm policies they like and change what they don't. When our citizens vote, they not only elect their leaders, they choose a direction and set priorities for our nation. Elections with integrity strengthen democracy. They confer legitimacy and boost public trust in government. Concerns with earlier versions of voting and election systems led to the passage of the 2002 Help America Vote Act. The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) established the federal Election Assistance Commission (EAC) and requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to work with the EAC on technical, voluntary guidelines for voting. Since the voting process is regulated at the state level, the methods by which voter registration databases are managed and the ways that voters cast their ballots vary, and therefore, different guidance may be followed depending on the state. The purpose of the hearing is to review the current voluntary guidelines for protecting voting and election systems, and whether such guidelines and protections are being effectively implemented in advance of the upcoming elections. This review will include the security of the election system in its entirety, including the security of: electronic voting machines, votes transmitted over the internet through email or e-fax, voter registration databases, and vote tally databases. In addition, the hearing will address the research and development that is underway to protect future voting and election systems.