“Go FCC Yourself” or lose the last best hope for Democracy

The Trump Administration is doing all it can to kill the Internet as we appreciate it. It is time to follow John Oliver’s advice;
1. Go to http://GoFCCYourself.com
2. Press “+Express” on the right near the top
3. Fill in the form and comment. e.g. “Keep the Internet free, keep it under Tittle II…”

[read post] | By on November 28, 2017 - National

Colorado Completes Nation’s first Risk Limiting Audit

Now it’s in the history books: Colorado has become the first state to complete a “risk-limiting audit” designed to catch mistakes when ballots are tabulated…

“Colorado is a national leader in exploring innovative solutions for accessible, secure and auditable elections,” [Matt} Masterson [Chair of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission] said. “Colorado’s risk-limiting audit provided great insights into how to conduct more efficient and effective post-election audits. The EAC is eager to share some of the lessons learned with election officials across America.”

[read post] | By on November 23, 2017 - National, Post-Election Audits

34 Districts Selected for Audit at Wethersfield High School

This morning Secretary of the State, Denise Merrill selected 34 district for audit with the help of students at Wethersfield High School:
[read post] | By on November 14, 2017 - CT, Post-Election Audits

A Year After, Our Elections Aren’t Much More Secure

From Buzzfeed’s Cyber Security Correspondent, Kevin Collier:  A Year After Trump’s Victory, Our Elections Aren’t Much More Secure

But the focus on how Facebook and Twitter were used to sow division in the US electorate has diverted attention from one of the weakest spots in the system: … a simple cyberattack can be effective against weak infrastructure and unprepared IT workers. Whether that can be fixed by 2018 or even 2020 is an open question…

“We’re not doing very well,” Alex Halderman, a renowned election security expert, told BuzzFeed News. “Most of the problems that existed in 2016 are as bad or worse now, and in fact unless there is some action at a national policy level, I don’t expect things will change very much before the 2018 election.”

[read post] | By on November 13, 2017 - CT, Internet Security Issues, National, Post-Election Audits

Signup TODAY! for the November 2017 Audit Observation

November Audit Signup Is Now Open <Signup>

The Purpose of the Citizen Audit is to increase integrity and confidence in elections, for the benefit of the voters of Connecticut. We provide independent audits, audit observations, and reports focusing on the integrity of elections and election administration. <More about the Citizen Audit>

Voters
Want
To Know:

 

 

 

You can Help Provide Answers!
Volunteer one day as a Post-Election Audit Observer.

The Connecticut Citizen Election Audit coordinates volunteers, like you, to observe the state’s post-election audit of voting machines. Non-partisan volunteers go “behind the scenes” with a checklist of best practices and interview questions. They gather information which is compiled into reports submitted to the public, election officials, and the Legislature.

  • Who can volunteer? Anyone. You, for example!
  • Where? Throughout the State of Connecticut.
  • When? Generally within the 2nd to 3th weeks following an election.
  • How? <Learn More> <Sign Up>

Why Volunteer?
For good Government, to preserve our right to a free and accurate vote!

See the Results of Our Efforts In the Audit Reports Below:

[read post] | By on November 9, 2017 - CT, Post-Election Audits

Danbury Officials did not follow the law in case diseased candidate

The failure to remove Mr. Seabury’s name, either by having the ballots reprinted with the name of the replacement candidate, having stickers with the replacement candidate’s name placed on the ballots or, in the event no replacement has been nominated, “(C)caus[ing] blank stickers to be so affixed if the vacancy is not filled,” is in direct violation of Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-460 (adding emphasis).

Our Opinion: We understand that diseased candidate Seabury was not elected, likely leaving the Democrats with no reason to go to court.  Yet, the Registrars deserve an SEEC complaint and large fines for blatantly failing to follow the law.

[read post] | By on November 8, 2017 - CT, CT Law

Samantha Bee: The Matrix has your vote

Election hacking, especially the risks in Georgia explained to Samantha Bee.

[read post] | By on November 3, 2017 - Electronic Vulnerability, Internet Security Issues, National

Just a step in the right direction: Merrill meets with Homeland Security

“Yesterday, along with representatives from the state’s information technology and public safety departments, I met with regional officials from the United States Department of Homeland Security to discuss how we can work together to ensure that Connecticut elections are safe from outside interference or manipulation. We had a productive meeting and I look forward to working together in the months and years to come to protect our elections, the bedrock of our democracy.” – Denise Merrill, Connecticut Secretary of the State

We applaud this step in the right direction.  Last year as leader of the National Association of Secretaries of State, Merrill opposed the designation of elections as critical infrastructure, leading in expressing the concern for a Federal take-over of elections. We were critical of that stand then and remain so.

In our opinion this is just a step. There are several aspects to election security/integrity that should be addressed,. This  step may assist in those that are under direct control of the of the the State, yet less so those under local control.

[read post] | By on October 28, 2017 - Chain of Custody, CT, Electronic Vulnerability, Internet Security Issues, Mail/Absentee Voting, Our Editorials, Post-Election Audits, Recounts/Recanvasses

Rhode Island poised to lead New England in Post-Election Audits

Press Release:  Rhode Island Takes Important Step to Secure Elections with Post-Election Audits – Adopts New Procedure to Check Election Results as Threats Increase

“Post-election audits are the best safeguard to making sure that votes are being counted as cast,” said Representative Edith Ajello (D-Providence), the House sponsor. “My community saw a simple administrative error almost turn into an incorrect election result,” added Senate sponsor, Senator James Sheehan (D-North Kingstown), “and this legislation will help assure voters that a system is in place to catch and correct future problems.”

The audits will begin as soon as September 2018. Rhode Island becomes the 32nd state to require post-election audits, and only the second state to require risk-limiting audits.

[read post] | By on October 19, 2017 - National, Post-Election Audits

RoundUp: Spy vs Spy, while Officials and Voters lose

Almost every day lately there is news on the potential of future and past hacking, including election hacking. Today we suggest three recent articles and a report.

The N.S.A. bans its analysts from using Kaspersky antivirus at the agency, in large part because the agency has exploited antivirus software for its own foreign hacking operations and knows the same technique is used by its adversaries.

If Russia can attack our election, so can others: Iran, North Korea, ISIS, or even criminal or extremist groups.

Exactly a year after U.S. intelligence issued a stern warning about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, the Trump administration has failed to fill key homeland security posts responsible for preventing another Kremlin assault on the voting system…

It sounds like science fiction, or at least “Ocean’s 11,” but cybersecurity experts are frantically waving their hands, trying to get Americans to see that in foreign capitals, the American voting system just looks like easy opportunity.

[read post] | By on October 12, 2017 - Electronic Vulnerability, National, Reports