After Persistent Advocacy by LWVWA, Secretary of State Adopts Emergency Rules

16 Aug 2018 11:57 AM | Deleted user

We are thrilled to share that on August 10, 2018, Secretary of State Kim Wyman immediately eliminated the option for email return of ballots for non-overseas and non-military voters in Washington. The reason: this voting method is highly vulnerable to hacking. 

This decision is a huge step forward in improving election security in our state. LWVWA has sounded the alarm about the insecurity of this practice and advocated for this change prior to the midterm election. We're proud of our role in bringing this risk to Wyman's attention and demonstrating how easily emailed ballots can be compromised. 

LWVWA Election Security Issue Chair Kirstin Mueller has been front and center on this critical issue. In an early August appearance on KIRO TV, she encouraged Secretary Wyman to eliminate the option for domestic, non-service voters to use email ballot return. 

Mueller's impact has reverberated in the national media, as well. 
In an interview from Las Vegas last week, where he was attending the annual hacking conference DefCon, Washington Deputy Secretary of State Mark Neary cited an email hacking demonstration conducted by Mueller back in March, as well the concern for malware transmission by email ballot files as being an impetus for the August rule change in Washington.

Mueller's public education effort has also included an interview on KEXP. You can listen to that interview here

The League of Women Voters of Washington is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization.
The League of Women Voters of Washington Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. LWVWA Education Fund contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law. The League of Women Voters Education Fund does not endorse the contents of any web pages to which it links.

League of Women Voters of the United States

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software