(TheIndependentStar.com) – With less than 90 days until the November election concludes, top hackers at DEF CON’s Voting Village during the recent Las Vegas gathering uncovered critical flaws in U.S. voting machines.
Yet, reports reveal that because the process of fixing these issues is so complex, the identified flaws are likely to remain unresolved by Election Day, leaving experts and officials concerned.
Every year, the DEF CON conference reveals weaknesses in election equipment.
This year was no exception, as hackers pointed out various flaws in voting machines and e-poll books used for verifying voters’ identities and tabulating ballots.
Catherine Terranova, one of the organizers of the Voting Village, said, “As far as time goes, it is hard to make any real, major, systemic changes, but especially 90 days out from the election. It’s particularly troubling during an election year like this,”
Over the weekend, hackers tested different voting machines, trying to breach their security measures. In a room filled with assorted equipment, hackers worked diligently while election officials discussed the threats of misinformation and disinformation that could influence the upcoming vote.
Despite the importance of this work, it remains somewhat isolated.
Unlike other DEF CON events, the Voting Village was held in a separate, more secure location. This decision was made after years of online harassment from people who falsely believed the event undermined democracy.
Moreover, the Voting Village has been key in pointing out security flaws, with some of the findings gaining acceptance in Washington. However, organizers and participants still feel frustrated by the slow pace of implementing fixes.
“There’s so much basic stuff that should be happening and is not happening,” said Harri Hursti, a co-founder of the Voting Village. “So, yes, I’m worried about things not being fixed, but they haven’t been fixed for a long time, and I’m also angry about it.”
Additionally, Executive Director of the Information Technology-Information Sharing and Analysis Center Scott Algeier said identifying a flaw is just the beginning.
Fixing it requires approval from the machine manufacturers, recertifying the systems, and physically updating each machine—a process that can’t be rushed, especially with the election so close.
“It’s not a 90-day fix,” Algeier added. “It’s a pretty complicated process.”
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