The primary risk highlighted is the vulnerability of digital voting systems to hacking and foreign interference, particularly from Russia. This can be interpreted in various ways, but despite the introduction of the Secure Elections Act and the U.S. being recognized as a leader in technology and innovation, the current U.S. Vice President implicitly acknowledges the challenge of securing elections from Russian interference. By stressing the need for paper ballots, there is an unspoken admission that digital voting systems may not be fully secure against such threats.Paper ballots are the smartest, safest way to ensure your vote is secure against attacks by foreign actors. Russia can’t hack a piece of paper like they can a computer. We introduced the Secure Elections Act to ensure our elections are safeguarded. We must be ready.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) March 31, 2019
While Russia is not the only actor accused of attempting to influence U.S. presidential elections, Kamala Harris isn't alone in raising concerns about election interference. The Microsoft Threat Analysis Center ([MTAC](https://x.com/MsftSecIntel/status/1821760817592758754)) recently published a report detailing [Iran's attempts to target the 2024 U.S. election](https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2024/08/08/iran-targeting-2024-us-election/) through influence campaigns, and U.S. Senator [Bernie Sanders has also accused Israel, through AIPAC, of trying to buy elections](https://x.com/BernieSanders/status/1821690479655944348) after spending $8.5M to defeat Cori Bush. And according to [AIPAC Tracker](https://x.com/TrackAIPAC) this would not be an isolated scenario, neither it is according to AIPAC that recently [announced that 100% of AIPAC-backed Democrats have won their primary race](https://x.com/AIPAC/status/1821148823760011517).The Microsoft Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) shares intelligence about Iranian actors laying the groundwork for influence operations aimed at US audiences and potentially seeking to impact the 2024 US presidential election: https://t.co/NHJo938Xjh
— Microsoft Threat Intelligence (@MsftSecIntel) August 9, 2024
Additionally, just yesterday, the [U.S. Department of Justice indicted four individuals](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/four-men-charged-philippine-bribery-and-money-laundering-scheme) on charges of bribery and fraud involving electronic voting systems (EVS) in the Philippines. Among those indicted is [Roger Alejandro Piñate Martinez](https://www.npr.org/2024/08/09/nx-s1-5069756/smartmatic-alleged-bribery-scheme-elections-philippines), a Venezuelan citizen, co-founder, and president of [Smartmatic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartmatic), the company that supplies voting technology to Venezuela and several other countries in Europe, the U.S., Latin America, and Asia for local and national elections. This news comes just weeks after The Washington Post reported that [Patrick Byrne](https://x.com/PatrickByrne), described as a figure who "has funded efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 election", [claimed he had been hacking Venezuela's government for two years](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/07/26/patrick-byrne-tina-peters-threats/).AIPAC had to spend $8.5 million to get 51% of the vote to defeat Cori Bush. Billionaires buying elections is not what this country is supposed to be about. We have to end Citizens United and super PACs and move to public funding of elections.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) August 8, 2024
The timing is particularly intriguing as DEFCON 32 kicks off today. While writing this blog post, I discovered that just two weeks ago, the [DEFCON Voting Village/Election Integrity Foundation](https://x.com/VotingVillageDC) shared a heartfelt [LinkedIn message expressing uncertainty about meeting their fundraising goals](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/election-integrity-foundation_donate-voting-village-activity-7221543518358421504-_wyF/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios). In conclusion, as we approach the U.S. presidential elections, election security remains a critical national concern. The recent statements by Kamala Harris and Bernie Sanders, along with reports from the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center and the U.S. Department of Justice indictments, highlight the ongoing vulnerabilities and fragility of democracy. Key takeaways include the need for heightened vigilance against both foreign interference from countries like Russia, Iran, Venezuela, and Israel, as well as from domestic entities like PACs and Super PACs. The emphasis on paper ballots as more secure alternatives reflects growing concerns about the collective trust in technology, especially [in light of last month global CrowdStrike outage](https://www.msuiche.com/posts/bob-and-alice-in-kernel-land/). The ongoing developments, including concerns raised by the [DEFCON Voting Village](https://www.votingvillage.org/donate) about fundraising challenges, indicate that the landscape of election security is dynamic and fraught with risks. It will be crucial to monitor these issues closely. The future is watching.Smartmatic has learned that two of our employees have been indicted for alleged violations of the FCPA in the Philippines almost 10 years ago. Regardless of the veracity of the allegations and while our accused employees remain innocent until proven guilty, we have placed both… pic.twitter.com/ZGFVXgh5XX
— Smartmatic (@smartmatic) August 9, 2024