Protecting Democracy: My Journey Covering Election Security
As a journalist, I’ve always believed in the power of good storytelling to illuminate, educate, and inspire action. Over the past dozen years, that philosophy has drawn me again and again to the conundrum of election integrity. Designing systems that are secure, accurate, and anonymous is a particularly challenging task.
My attempt to understand this has taken me across the country, from the offices of secretaries of state – to the warehouses where voting machines are prepped for action – to bustling election precincts on election day. It’s been a long, strange trip. The intersection of technology, governance, and the democratic process is a busy place – ripe for collisions on the rocky road to elections that are more secure.
West Virginia to Georgia: Unpacking Vulnerabilities
My journey began in West Virginia, where I reported on the debates surrounding internet voting, focusing on initiatives addressing overseas voters’ unique needs. While proponents like former Secretary of State Natalie Tennant tout the potential for convenience and accessibility, skeptics, including cryptography experts who warn of the immense security risks that far outweigh the benefits. Among them: J. Alex Halderman, a computer science and engineering professor at the University of Michigan.
Alex is very skeptical of the voting system currently deployed in Georgia, the ballot marking devices (BMDs) central to the state’s $107 million voting system. He demonstrated some vulnerabilities in Dominion’s machines that could allow malicious actors to alter outcomes without detection. While state officials tout the robustness of safeguards, the challenges of scaling and updating this system remain a sobering reality.
Mail-in Voting: The Realities Behind the Rhetoric
Mail-in voting has become a cornerstone of modern elections, yet it’s frequently caught in the crossfire of political debate. My investigations have debunked myths about widespread fraud, showcasing data from institutions like the Heritage Foundation that point to an exceptionally low incidence of absentee ballot tampering. Interviews with election supervisors in states like Colorado and Florida revealed the meticulous safeguards—from barcode tracking to bipartisan adjudication—ensuring mail-in ballots’ integrity.
The Role of Audits and Transparency
Throughout my coverage, one recurring theme is the critical role of audits in maintaining public trust. Risk-limiting audits, already implemented in some states, provide a statistically rigorous method to verify results. These practices, however, remain unevenly adopted nationwide, leaving gaps that undermine confidence in close races.
Facing the Future: Lessons Learned
As election cycles become increasingly contested and technological threats evolve, the need for robust, transparent systems has never been more urgent. The 2024 election underscored this dichotomy. While the outcome left little room for doubt, systemic vulnerabilities and the threat of foreign interference highlighted areas where reform is essential. Listen to my post election conversation with Alex Halderman here.
Call to Action
Journalism, at its best, holds a mirror to society, reflecting not only its strengths but also its weaknesses. My work on election security aims to foster informed dialogue, urging policymakers, technologists, and citizens to collectively safeguard democracy. The stories we tell today will shape the electoral processes of tomorrow—and the trust we place in them.
