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National experts report this year's elections face their biggest threats, but the process is more secure than ever.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) was formed in 2018 to serve as the U.S.'s cyber defense agency.
CISA also watches over critical infrastructure such as elections.
Jen Easterly, director of CISA, said it's important to remember threats have never been more complex. However, election infrastructure has never been more secure.
“I have spent an enormous amount of time traveling the country, working with election officials," she said. "And I can tell you that I have enormous confidence in the security and integrity of election infrastructure.”
She explained that the machines Americans use to vote are not connected to the internet. Additionally, over 97% of registered voters will pass their ballot in jurisdictions where they will have a paper record to verify.
“This includes pre-election testing of equipment and post-election audits," Easterly said.
She expects foreign governments and hackers to try and interfere, but since ballot counters are tested, retested, and most voters have a paper trail that can be used to audit any discrepancies, the best hackers can do is disrupt websites or doxx election workers.
While she said such actions would be destructive, Easterly explained any attacks wouldn't have an impact on the election count itself.
“The reality is our election infrastructure has never been more secure," she said.
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