Ban on Internet-Connected Voting Systems Moves Forward
Statement of Aquene Freechild, Co-Director, Public Citizen’s Democracy Is For People Campaign
Note: The Technical Guidelines Development Committee of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission today voted unanimously to recommend passage of the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 requirements including a ban on internet connectivity in voting systems. The requirements, if adopted by the Commission after a review and public comment period, will shape the development of new voting systems going forward by barring internet connectivity in federally certified systems.
Today we are one step closer to banning internet connectivity in key voting systems. The efforts of tens of thousands of people, mobilized by advocacy groups on the left and the right, to demand more secure elections were worth it.
We are going to relentlessly pursue better voting system standards and refuse to accept the substandard security of voting systems being marketed and sold to our state and local governments.
We urge election officials at the state and local levels to refuse to purchase voting systems with internet connectivity, even before the new requirements for certification go into effect in future election cycles.
We will continue our work with everyday Americans to protect the right to vote and to ensure that every vote is counted as cast.