Indiana Voting Machines are Vulnerable to Security Issues

BACKGROUND

Efficient and accurate voting systems play a pivotal role in maintaining voter confidence in the election system. Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and other incidents have emphasized the need for the country to rethink the security of its existing voting infrastructure. This can include ensuring safe and secure polling places, up-to-date voting equipment, and verifiable paper records of votes.

In 2019, voters in Indiana filed a federal suit to replace paperless voting machines in the state, which do not leave a paper trail of votes that were cast.1 These paperless electronic machines rose to prominence after the Help America Vote Act banned the use of lever machines and punch cards in federal elections following the Florida recount controversy of 2000. However, concerns with these types of machines began to arise as early as the 2002 elections.2 The 2019 Indiana lawsuit cited that the use of paperless electronic voting machines leaves Indiana vulnerable to security risks.

Given these issues, we examined data from the organization Verified Voting3 to review the prevalence and types of voting equipment used in Indiana polling sites as of 2020. This brief further assesses the risks and implications of using paperless audit voting machines and provides recommendations to increase the security of Indiana elections in the future.

Read the complete report here.

Businessman hand putting voting paper in the ballot box, Voting concept, VECTOR, EPS10