By Luther Weeks on February 18, 2018
American Progress Report: Election Security in All 50 States
The report gives every state grades based on some detailed criteria. Connecticut was graded ‘B’, which it shared with several other states as the highest grade awarded. Yet there are problems and limitations with such reports. We would give Connecticut lower grades in some areas, higher in others, and are uncomfortable with other grades.
The report is useful and provides directions for improvement in many areas in every state. Election officials, legislators, and voters should act to improve our voting systems and laws in the near term. We would give the authors A+ for effort and the report a grade of B.
Posted in CT, Internet Security Issues, National, Reports
By Luther Weeks on February 13, 2018
Citizens Audit Report:
After 10 years, 18 post-election audits, and 800 local audit counting sessions, serious flaws continue
From the Press Release:
Post-election vote audits of the November 2017 elections continue to fail to meet basic audit standards. They again undermine confidence in the accuracy of our elections, concludes the non-partisan Connecticut Citizen Election Audit.
Among the group’s concerns:
- 41% of reports required to be submitted to the Secretary of the State by registrars were incomplete or were not submitted. The Secretary’s Office failed to follow up on those reports.
- Weaknesses in ballot chain-of-custody and security.
- Continued use of flawed electronic audit procedures that are not publicly verifiable.
On the bright side, developments related to the electronic audit point the way to improvement:
- The Secretary of the State’s Office and UConn Voter Center solicited feedback on improving the electronic audits.
- Write-in counting issues and failure to separate ballots as required were clearly identified by the electronic audit and observed by the Secretary of the State’s Office.
Luther Weeks, Executive Director of the Citizen Audit said, “We are frustrated with so little improvement after 18 statewide audits over 10 years. Citizens deserve better. Yet, if the Secretary of the State’s Office follows up on these problems and pursues publicly verifiable electronic audits, progress can be achieved in the near term.”
<Press Release .pdf> <Full Report pdf> <Detail data/municipal reports>
Posted in CT, Post-Election Audits
By Luther Weeks on February 11, 2018
Last week as I prepared for the MLK Conversation, I wrote up a couple of Frequently Asked Questions, one asked about Conspiracy Theorists.
Are you a Conspiracy Theorist?
I think we all are. We just don’t recognize that many of the things we believe are conspiracies. Many were unproven allegations before we believed them…
Reading the Hartford Courant and the New York Times its amazing how many articles involve actual or alleged conspiracies. I counted at least a score in those two publications, just today. Take this as an exercise. Pick up your newspaper, online news site, or look at Facebook for a while and see how many you see that you believe are actual conspiracies, are possible, or are doubtful. Here are some ideas to ponder…
Posted in CT, FAQ
By Luther Weeks on February 5, 2018
Last Wednesday evening, I was one of five speakers and a moderator at a Community Conversation held by the Glastonbury Martin Luther King Community Initiative. There were about 60 to 75 in attendance. We addressed “Does your vote count? An examination of the Issues” I addressed issues in two areas: How could you know if your vote was counted? And what I would recommend to expand democracy in Connecticut, without risking election integrity. Here are my prepared remarks:
Posted in CT, CT Law, CT Skulduggery and Errors, Electronic Vulnerability, Internet Security Issues
By Luther Weeks on January 28, 2018
In a 3am decision, the Connecticut Supreme Court ordered a third primary in Bridgeport. CTPost: Supreme Court orders 3rd primary for Bridgeport
“Citizens can expect and are entitled to integrity in the process and a fundamentally fair and honest election, and this, I regret to say, they did not get,” the judge stated in overturning the results of the primary and ordering a new one.
Posted in CT, CT Skulduggery and Errors, Mail/Absentee Voting
By Luther Weeks on November 14, 2017
This morning Secretary of the State, Denise Merrill selected 34 district for audit with the help of students at Wethersfield High School:
Posted in CT, Post-Election Audits
By Luther Weeks on November 13, 2017
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.”
Posted in CT, Internet Security Issues, National, Post-Election Audits
By Luther Weeks on November 9, 2017
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:
Posted in CT, Post-Election Audits
By Luther Weeks on November 8, 2017
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.
Posted in CT, CT Law
By Luther Weeks on October 28, 2017
“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.
Posted in Chain of Custody, CT, Electronic Vulnerability, Internet Security Issues, Mail/Absentee Voting, Our Editorials, Post-Election Audits, Recounts/Recanvasses
