Senators Demand Answers From Voting Machine Giants Over Security Flaws
Four senior senators pressure top U.S. voting machine makers to explain why they sell insecure, outdated devices ahead of the 2020 election. The lawmakers demand to know why these companies lack paper ballot options despite controlling most of the market.
Four senior senators call out the largest U.S. voting machine makers for selling devices with known security vulnerabilities. The lawmakers demand that ES&S, Dominion Voting, and Hart InterCivic explain why they continue to sell decades-old machines that contain flaws capable of undermining election results. These three companies control over 90 percent of the U.S. election equipment market, yet they show a lack of meaningful innovation.
The senators express deep concern because these machines lack paper ballots or auditability, making it impossible to verify if a vote is accurately counted in the event of a bug or a hack. Despite these serious risks, tens of millions of voters use these exact devices during the upcoming 2020 presidential election. Security experts back up these concerns, noting that hackers can easily meddle with election results on these outdated systems.
Recent incidents highlight the real-world impact of these flaws, such as ballot options disappearing on Hart machines during early voting in Texas. Furthermore, ES&S sparks anger by refusing to provide its systems to security researchers following a disastrous hacking demonstration at Def Con. The Democratic lawmakers insist that paper trails are basic necessities for a reliable voting system and push for mandatory paper ballot legislation.