Editor's Note: This column was co-authored by Hogan Gidley.
Criminals are always looking for new ways and technology to hack into your life, steal protected information, and rob you blind.
Your cell phone sends you software updates constantly to prevent this. Yes, the updates are annoying and take time to install, but they are also critically necessary to prevent criminals from breaking into your device and stealing your private information. How secure do you think your cell phone — or any of your electronic devices — would be if your last software update was FOUR YEARS AGO?
The answer is obvious: Not at all secure.
A shocking detailed report recently exposed that the software used in Georgia’s voting machines is not up to date and hasn’t been for years, which raises serious security concerns about the ability to protect voters.
The Halderman Report is a comprehensive study conducted by computer security expert Alex Halderman along with a team of election and computer technology experts. It identified many dangerous vulnerabilities in Georgia’s current voting systems.
One of the main issues uncovered is that the state of Georgia uses a product called Democracy Suite version 5.5-A on its voting machines. Halderman revealed that the software version of Democracy Suite Georgia was last certified in 2019 — more than four years ago. This is completely unacceptable, especially considering that the machine manufacturer has already released four subsequent software versions that have undergone the federal certification process and received federal certification.
But Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has chosen to disregard these updates and plans to continue using the outdated 5.5-A until after the 2024 presidential election. It is also concerning that only recently did Secretary Raffensperger unseal the report, make it public, and provide it to the Georgia State Legislature.
By ignoring the report’s red flags and refusing to update the machines with the appropriate security software, Secretary Raffensperger has put the voters of Georgia at risk and further eroded the trust in our election system.
Polls show the distrust in elections is real. According to a recent Rasmussen poll, only 25 percent of voters believe the correct person was declared president in both 2016 and 2020. Trust in the electoral process is vital to a democracy.
Georgia state legislators had to weather a national media firestorm when they rightly passed election integrity laws to protect every legal vote and every legal voter. In the next election, the state experienced record turnout among all demographics. The laws passed improved the electoral process, restored some lost faith in the system, and helped make Georgia a nationally recognized election integrity leader.
But these latest revelations about Secretary Raffensperger’s refusal to update voting machine software and his lack of urgency in addressing the identified vulnerabilities are troubling — and sadly, may undermine the great work from past legislative sessions.
Georgia has been a leader in stopping the use of outside private money to fund elections, a tactic which undermines confidence in our elections. In fact, recently passed legislation signed into law this year is model legislation that other states around the country can follow. The positive actions that the Georgia Legislature and other elected officials have taken to improve their election system, many of which came at a great cost because of partisanship, should not be undone because the Secretary of State hides a report and then doesn’t provide valid answers to serious questions.
Election integrity is not a partisan issue. Now is the time for Secretary Raffensperger to outline a clear plan of action to address these documented vulnerabilities with immediate software updates for the state’s voting machines and plans to protect the integrity of future elections. Hiding information from the public, name-calling, and ignoring new facts are not solutions — they are tired tactics designed to shift blame and protect the status quo.
The 2024 election is fast approaching. Georgians deserve current, up-to-date security software for their voting machines that will help instill faith, trust, and confidence in their election system. The people demand solutions, and they deserve them.
Ken Blackwell serves as Chairman of the Center for Election Integrity at the America First Policy Institute. He previously served as the Secretary of State of Ohio. Hogan J. Gidley serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Center for Election Integrity for the America First Policy Institute.
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