Skip to main content
Hearing Hearing Date: November 29, 2017 2:00 pm 2154 Rayburn HOB

Cybersecurity of Voting Machines

Subject
Cybersecurity of Voting Machines
Date
November 29, 2017
Time
2:00 pm
Place
2154 Rayburn HOB

PURPOSE:

  • To assess the current state of cybersecurity of vote tabulation machines. 
  • To identify actions states, the Administration, and Congress can take to ensure voting machines are secure prior to the 2018 midterm elections.

BACKGROUND:

  • In September 2016, prior to the 2016 elections, the IT Subcommittee held a hearing entitled “Cybersecurity of Voting Machines”
  • In January 2017, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson designated election infrastructure as “critical infrastructure” with the intent of offering assistance to state and local election officials. 
  • On September 22, 2017, DHS notified 21 states of Russian government hackers’ attempt to breach state systems during the 2016 election. Two weeks later, DHS announced the creation of an election security task force to enhance coordination with state and local election officials.
  • On September 8, 2017, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s election supervisors directed counties to end the use of touchscreen voting machines before November’s elections, citing the devices posed unacceptable digital risks. 
Witnesses and testimonies: The Honorable Christopher C. Krebs

Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary National Protection & Programs Directorate
Department of Homeland Security

Document

The Honorable Tom Schedler

Secretary of State of Louisiana


Document

The Honorable Edgardo Cortés

Commissioner
Virginia Department of Elections

Document

Dr. Matthew Blaze, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Computer and Information Science
University of Pennsylvania

Document

Ms. Susan Klein Hennessey

Fellow in National Security Law, Governance Studies
Brookings Institution

Document

Related Documents
Name Document
Chairman Will Hurd Opening Statement Document