Silver Spring, Md. – Today, U.S. Election Assistance Commissioner (EAC) Chairman Matthew V. Masterson issued the following statement:
“Today, Americans are casting ballots in jurisdictions across our great nation. The state and local officials administering these elections and those who are preparing for the elections that lie ahead depend on access to timely, accurate cybersecurity intelligence from federal agencies. I encourage those federal agencies that have specific intelligence or resources that could help election officials better secure the election process to share that information with state and local officials as soon as possible. This information is critical to ensuring the continued security of the process moving forward.
“The Election Assistance Commission stands ready to work with our federal partners to share this information and additional best practices that can ensure the continued security of the election process. We urge federal entities to work hand in glove with the EAC to provide election administrators with the facts they need to best serve American voters.”
Earlier today in the wake of news reports that in the fall of 2016 a Russian-based hacker launched a phishing cyberattack targeting more than 100 local U.S.-based election officials, EAC issued an alert to state and local election leaders. The commission will continue to monitor potential threats and work with federal entities such as the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to provide information and services to state and local election administrators.
For more information or to speak with Chairman Masterson, please contact Brenda Bowser Soder at [email protected] or 202-897-9285.
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The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) was established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). It is an independent, bipartisan commission charged with ensuring secure, accurate and accessible elections by developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, and serving as a national clearinghouse of information on election administration. EAC also accredits testing laboratories and certifies voting systems, as well as administers the use of HAVA funds. For more information, visit www.eac.gov.