ELECTION SECURITY UPDATES_

 Here’s the latest:

2020

• August 18 - The Senate Intelligence Committee released their final report which found that there were numerous contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 presidential election.

• August 7 - U.S. intelligence officials said that Russia is using a range of techniques to target former Vice President Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, while boosting President Donald Trump’s campaign.

• August 6 - Facebook removed a network of fake accounts originating from Romania that were “posing as conservative Americans supportive of the U.S. president’s reelection” and posting about American politics

• August 1 - Intelligence officials confirmed that foreign adversaries are actively seeking to compromise the nation’s election infrastructure and are spreading disinformation.

• June 4 - Google announced that President Donald Trump's presidential campaign has been targeted by phishing attacks from Iran and that Democrat Joe Biden's presidential campaign has been targeted by phishing attacks from China.

• May 6 - In April, Facebook removed two networks of inauthentic Facebook accounts and pages — which were posting about U.S. elections — that were tied to media agencies based in Crimea. They were taken down because of their use of “fake accounts to post content and generate engagement.”

• April 21 - A bipartisan report from the Senate Intelligence Committee confirmed the U.S. intelligence community’s conclusions that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election to sow chaos and warned that it could happen again in the 2020 election.

• April 8 - Cybersecurity firm Recorded Future released a report detailing a Russian-backed disinformation campaign known as “Secondary Infektion,” which was first discovered in 2019, and has released forged documents from U.S. government officials that are aimed at straining international relations.

• April 4 - ABC News reported that several states have diverted election security funds to cover unanticipated costs stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.

• April 2 - Microsoft announced that it will expand its cybersecurity offerings to state election officials as part of its Defending Democracy Program. 

• March 26 - HBO released a new documentary, Kill Chain, detailing aspects of the 2016 Russian foreign interference campaign.

• March 17 - The Justice Department dropped its case against two Russian firms, Concord Management and Consulting and Concord Catering, that had previously been indicted as part of special counsel Robert Muller’s investigation.

• March 11 - A report from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, chaired by Sen. Angus King (I-ME) and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), offered 75 recommendations to prevent a major cybersecurity threat during future elections.

• March 5 - A professor affiliated with the Brennan Center for Justice released a report that found Russian trolling specialists have become more subtle in their attacks, better mimicking existing American groups.

• March 2 - Officials from the DOS, DOJ, DOD, DHS, ODNI, FBI, NSA and CISA released a joint statement ahead of Super Tuesday warning that foreign actors "continue to try to influence public sentiment and shape voter perceptions."

• February 28 - House Democrats, led by Homeland Security Committee Chair Bennie Thompson, criticized the DHS’s failure to submit a mandated report on successful and attempted cyberattacks during the 2016 elections. The report was part of a bill signed into law by President Trump on December 20 and should have been submitted by February 18.

• February 27 - A poll conducted by AP and NORC Center for Public Affairs found that three-quarters of Americans are concerned about foreign interference in the 2020 elections. Nine out of 10 Democrats surveyed expressed concern as did six out of 10 Republicans.

• February 25 - Experts at a cybersecurity conference warned against the use of high tech voting equipment in elections, stating that paper ballots are the strongest method to ensure voting integrity.

• February 24 - A representative from the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force warned that Russia intends to use robust disinformation campaigns in an effort to watch Americans “tear ourselves apart.”

• February 21 - In a classified briefing before the House Intelligence Committee, intelligence officials warned lawmakers that Russia has renewed its plans to attack the 2020 election.

• February 20 - Election officials in states like Kentucky have said publicly that their election systems are constantly being scanned and probed for weaknesses by North Korea, Russia, and others on a daily basis. 

• February 19 - In an op-ed, Attorney General William Barr and FBI Director Christopher Wray called for the public “remain watchful of any malicious activities from cybercriminals” while also stating that there is no evidence of foreign interference ahead of the 2020 elections at this time.

• February 19 - Microsoft tested its ElectionGuard software for the first time during a local election in Wisconsin. Voters would select their preferred candidate on a touchscreen and then receive a paper ballot to track their vote.

• February 16 - Microsoft President Brad Smith said that tech companies have “fundamental responsibility not just to address but fight disinformation.”

• February 14 - Facebook announced that it had removed two networks of fake accounts originating in Russia and Iran from its system. The accounts were being used to publish opinions on U.S. politics as far back as 2016.

• February 13 - Election supervisors in Palm Beach County, Florida confirmed that their office had suffered from a severe ransomware attack before the 2016 elections.

• February 13 - A group of MIT researchers found that Voatz, an online voting application being tested in five states, is susceptible to hacks that can alter, block or expose voters’ ballots.

• February 11 - The Department of Homeland Security released four major objectives as part of its #Protect2020 Strategic Plan for cybersecurity. The plan includes expanded circulation of its "planning and emergency response guides” for enforcing security, continued offering of free training for election officials, “societal resilience” campaigns to combat foreign disinformation, and to promote itself as a liaison among state and local officials.

• February 11 - The White House’s proposed FY2021 budget allocated an additional $300,000 to the Election Assistance Commission for a total of a little over $13 million. The independent agency is charged with maintaining information and resources for state election systems.

• February 11 - The U.S. Senate blocked efforts to pass three election security-related bills; two that would require campaigns to notify the FBI and FEC regarding foreign offers of assistance and one that would provide further election funding and ban internet-connected voting machines.

• February 7 - Eight Ohio counties missed a state mandated deadline to improve their election security infrastructure. One county has not provided a plan to do so and will be placed under administrative oversight.

• February 7 - The Senate Intelligence Committee released a report calling for “the President of the United States [to] take steps to separate himself or herself from political considerations when handling issues related to foreign influence operations” and for politicians to exercise general restraint before claiming an election is hacked or corrupted.

• February 6 - Representative John Katko (R-NY) called for House Republicans to hold election security roundtables in their districts. He has provided members with a template based on previous events he has held.

• February 6 - The Government Accountability Office reported that the Department of Homeland Security is “not well positioned” to ensure secure elections in the 2020 campaign cycle. The report calls for the DHS to finalize a strategic plan for securing election infrastructure. In response, the department agreed to the recommendations and said it will finalize its plans by February 14. 

• February 3 - McAfee released an analysis of over 1,000 local government websites and concluded that an overwhelming majority of them lacked basic security measures and validation.

• February 3 - Secretaries of State from across the country convened in Washington for a four-day conference on election security. Panelists and attendees discussed updating voting systems and countering ransomware attacks and foreign interference.

• January 29 - A group of House Republicans, led by Administration Committee Ranking Member Rodney Davis (R-IL) as well as Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) and Mark Walker (R-NC), introduced the Protect American Voters Act to require the establishment of an Emerging Election Technology Committee within the Election Assistance Commission. The committee would provide guidelines to ensure that election equipment are protected from foreign hacking.

• January 21 - A poll from NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist found that 41 percent of respondents believed that the U.S. is not very prepared or not prepared at all to keep November’s elections safe and secure. Voters said in the poll that their biggest concern is disinformation, followed by voter fraud and voter suppression.

• January 16 - FBI announced new internal policy to give state and local election officials “timely” notification of any detected cybersecurity breaches. It requires agents to notify officials in person of any incidents but not potential vulnerabilities within the wider system. The bureau previously would notify individuals of intrusions but not always state officials. 

• January 14 - The election security threats executive at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence announced that the U.S. will face “more sophisticated” threats in 2020 from Russia as well as China, Iran, North Korea, [and] non-state hacktivists.” She said candidates and parties will be notified if they are judged to have been the target of an attack.

• January 10 - During a House Administration Committee hearing, two academic witnesses called for the U.S. government to completely phase out paperless voting machines and replace them with "precinct-counted optical scan ballots,” while election technology providers reassured Congress that they are taking necessary steps to ensure secure elections in 2020.

2019

• December 25 - U.S. Cyber Command announces that it is considering the development of information warfare tactics against senior Russian officials should they try to interfere in the 2020 U.S. elections.

• December 19 - PASSED: Congress approves $425 million in election security funding for states and also passes strong measures to help deter foreign influence in elections. Learn more. 

• November 12 - The bipartisan Election Technology Research Act of 2019 is introduced in the House. It would provide new resources to conduct research to promote the modernization of U.S. voting systems.

• November 5 - Issue one releases a report called “Digital Disaster: The failures of Facebook, Google, and Twitter’s political ad transparency policies,” revealing how piecemeal, voluntary approaches by the largest social media platforms to stop disinformation campaigns fail to protect our political system from foreign interference. 

• October 31 - Issue One delivers a letter to the Senate from more than 90 national security leaders, former members of Congress, and top administration officials calling on the chamber to act on election security reforms.

• October 30 - Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey announced his platform will stop all political advertising on his platform, including issue ads.

• October 24 - Republican South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham co-sponsored the Foreign Agents Registration Enhancements Act of 2019.

• October 22 — U.S. House passes the bipartisan Corporate Transparency Act of 2019. It requires shell companies to disclose their true owners.

• October 21 - Reports point to Kremlin-backed operatives targeting the candidacy of former Vice President Joe Biden with social media disinformation campaigns.

• October 18 - A group of House Republicans, led by Administration Committee Ranking Member Rodney Davis (R-IL), introduced the Honest Elections Act.

• October 8 - The Senate Intelligence Committee released a report supporting new disclosure requirements for online political ads. "The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 requires political ads on television, radio, and satellite to disclose the sponsor of the advertisement. The same requirements should apply online." The report also reaffirmed that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, targeting both Republicans and Democrats.

• October 4 - The New York Times reported that Iranian hackers targeted President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign.

• October 4 - Microsoft announced that hackers with the apparent backing of the Iranian government had launched 2,700 cyberattacks in September, including against U.S. government officials, journalists, and at least one presidential campaign.

• October 3 - CNN reports that FBI and Department of Homeland Security have warned states that Russia "might seek to covertly discourage or suppress U.S. voters from participating in next year's election."

• October 2 - Russian President Vladimir Putin joked at a conference that Russia plans to interfere in the 2020 election.

• October 1 - The National Association of Secretaries of State released a wide-ranging cybersecurity resources guide for Secretaries of State and their staffs.

• September 30 - The U.S. government announces new sanctions on four entities and seven individuals related to Russian election interference.

• September 26 - Issue One, the Alliance for Securing Democracy, and the Center for Democracy & Technology briefed Capitol Hill staff on election security challenges and solutions ahead of 2020.

• September 26 - DEF CON's Voting Machine Hacking Village reports that new electronic voting machines hare critical weaknesses that open the election process to attacks.

• September 23 - Republican Arizona Senator Martha McSally co-sponsored the DETER Act (Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines Act of 2019).

• September 20 - Microsoft will offer state and local election officials free security support for Windows 7 operating systems used in voting systems through 2020.

• September 20 - Reps. Bill Posey (R-FL) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) co-sponsored the Honest Ads Act, bringing the total number of sponsors in the House and Senate to 39.

• September 19 - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) walked back his opposition to further securing our elections and said he is now willing to support additional grant money to the states.

• September 19 - Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said he considers election security an enduring mission for the Department of Defense, noting that adversaries "will continue to target our democratic processes."

• September 18 - Conservative and national security leaders held a press conference calling on Congress to pass bills to protect U.S. elections from foreign interference.

• September 18 - Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg discussed election security and privacy with a group of senators over dinner.

• September 18 - The executive director of the Election Assistance Commission will not serve another term, following a deadlocked 2-2 vote by sitting commissioners.

• September 18 - A new study found that foreign entities have been targeting American veterans, service members and their families through social media disinformation campaigns.

• September 18 - Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Jack Reed (D-RI) introduced the Combating Foreign Influence Act. It would require the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to establish a center that would compile and analyze intelligence on foreign entities trying to interfere in U.S. elections.

• September 17 - Facebook removed hundreds of accounts and pages linked to campaigns in Iraq and Ukraine to spread disinformation that were also backed by more than $1.6 million in ads.

• September 16 - Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist and retired intelligence officer Tony Shaffer called on Senate Republicans to take the lead on election security.

• September 16 - A bipartisan group of digital consultants started a public push this week for lawmakers to address online advertising transparency and other issues facing political marketers. Read their statement.

• September 13 - Two election administrators in Michigan — a Republican and a Democrat — wrote about the need for more election security funding as the state prepares for the 2020 election.

• August 31 - The Federal Election Commission effectively shut down today after its vice chair - who was one of only four remaining commissioners - resigned. The agency that oversees federal election law needs at least four commissioners out of a possible six to make rules, hold meetings, and conduct other critical business.

• August 22 - CISA's new strategic plan states that "one of the highest-profile threats we face today is attempts by nation-state actors to maliciously interfere in our democratic elections."

• August 22 - Christopher Krebs, the director of the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), says he spends "40 to 50%" of his time on election security issues.

• August 22 - Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos (D) tells Vermont voters that “election security is my #1 top priority.”

• August 21 - Facebook announced it removed multiple accounts on Facebook and Instagram for "engaging in coordinated inauthentic behavior" in Myanmar.

• August 21 - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) says he has not "foreclosed doing more in appropriations" to provide money to states for election security.

• August 21 - Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate (R) supports more federal funding going to states for election security as long as Congress recognizes "the authority of states in administering elections and does not confuse it with election reform." Pate is also president of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS).

• August 20 - 58% of Americans believe the U.S. government should provide additional funding to the states to help them upgrade the security of their election equipment, according to a new Brookings Institution survey.

• August 19 - Twitter and Facebook suspended numerous accounts believes to be tied to a state-backed information campaign originating from inside China. Twitter will ban state-controlled media entities from advertising on the platform.

• August 16 - Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) says, "We’re securing our elections with state resources, but there is a federal need. This is a national crisis.”

• August 15 - Kentucky Director of Elections Jared Dearing (D) told the Election Assistance Commission, "The cliff that is looming before us is that we are failing to fund [local officials] appropriately for critical infrastructure in their own offices...We need more [election security funding]."

• August 15 - Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin (R) and Connecticut Secretary of State Denise Merrill (D) said additional federal funding is the best way Congress can help states shore up election security and ward off cyberattacks.

• August 13 - House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Doug Collins (R-GA) sends a letter to the Committee calling on the chairman to hold hearings and develop a "legislative roadmap to combat Russian interference in future elections."

• August 13 - President Trump reiterates his call for election security reform to require voter identification proposals.

• August 9 - The top cybersecurity official at Homeland Security said that backup paper ballots would be a necessary part of 2020 election security and that "Congress has a role" to play in election security and those conversations need to happen "with greater speed and greater aggressiveness."

• August 8 - Reps. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) and Michael Waltz (R-FL) requested a follow-up briefing from officials at the Justice Department, FBI, and Homeland Security for the full Florida congressional delegation. They both also sponsored the Achieving Lasting Electoral Reforms on Transparency and Security (ALERTS Act), H.R. 3529, in July.

• August 6 - U.S. CyberDome, a nonprofit, begins offering free cybersecurity services to political campaigns and parties. Its board of advisers includes former Homeland Security Secretaries Jeh Johnson and Michael Chertoff, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, and former CIA Acting Director Michael Morell. 

• August 2 - The Washington Post Editorial Board endorses the DETER Act, legislation sponsored by Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). 

• August 2 - Politico launches an ongoing investigation into the weaknesses of paperless voting systems across the United States.

• July 31 - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) tells reporters he’s “open to suggestions” and that maybe both parties can “reach an agreement” to further improve election security.

• July 31 - Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) supports greater election security but emphasizes that he does not want to federalize state election operations. 

• June 30 - President Donald Trump calls for requiring valid identification to vote and the use of paper ballots as backups.

• July 30 - Reps. Brian Mast (R-FL) and Anthony Brindisi (D-NY) co-sponsor the Honest Ads Act. 

• July 30 - U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) co-sponsors the Foreign Influence Reporting in Elections (FIRE) Act.

• July 29 - Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) send a letter urging their colleagues on the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to consider adding their DETER Act to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 final conference report. 

• June 27 - PASSED: U.S. House passes the Securing America's Federal Elections (SAFE) Act which would invest in upgrades to help secure voting systems against foreign intrusion.

• July 25 - The New York Times reports that Facebook’s political advertising library - voluntarily developed to fight foreign disinformation - is deeply flawed and unreliable.

• July 25 - The Senate Intelligence Committee releases its report on the 2016 election interference by Russia, highlighting that there are systemic weaknesses at the state and local levels. 

• July 24 - Special Counsel Robert Mueller warns that Russia continues to try and interfere in our elections and that in 2020, other foreign actors will join them. 

• July 23 - FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies to Congress that, “The Russians are absolutely intent on trying to interfere with our elections…” and that “until they stop, they haven’t been deterred enough.”

• July 21 - Election Assistance Commission emphasizes that states need to ensure elections are secure and accessible. 

• July 18 - States need additional funding to address election security vulnerabilities, according to a new report by the Alliance for Securing Democracy, Brennan Center for Justice, R Street, and the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute for Cyber Law, Policy, and Security.

• July 17 - PASSED: U.S. Senate unanimously passes the bipartisan Defending Integrity of Voting Systems Act that makes hacking into any voting systems used in federal elections a crime under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

• July 17 - 10 Republican and Democratic Secretaries of State plead for more money to defend and modernize their voting systems.

• July 16 - Issue One delivers a letter to every member of Congress urging bipartisan action to defend against foreign interference in our elections. 

• July 15 - Issue One’s Don’t Mess With US project delivers election security background materials to every U.S. Senate office. 

• June 26 - Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says private companies do not have the tools to stop Russia from interfering in U.S. elections and need help from governments to be successful.

• June 25 - Reps. Gregory Steube (R-FL) and Lori Trahan (D-MA) co-sponsor the Honest Ads Act.

• June 4 - PASSED: U.S. Senate unanimously passes the bipartisan Defending Elections Against Trolls from Enemy Regimes (DETER) Act which prevents foreign actors who have interfered in our elections from entering the United States. 

• May 23 - The Federal Election Commission approves a request from the nonprofit Defending Digital Campaigns allowing it to offer free cybersecurity services to political campaigns. Veteran Republican and Democratic campaign managers Matt Rhoades and Robby Mook serve on its board, as well as Debora Plunkett, former director at the National Security Agency.