Russia-linked cyber attacks targeted 18 state election systems, conducted malicious access attempts on six state voting-related websites, and gained access to “restricted elements of election infrastructure” in a handful of states during the 2016 elections, according to a U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence report summary that was recently released.
The committee released on May 8 an unclassified summary of the first installment of its report on Russia targeting election infrastructure. A comprehensive, classified report was also submitted regarding threats to election infrastructure for declassification review and public release.
The report summary states that Russia “undertook a wide variety of intelligence-related activities targeting U.S. voting processes” dating as far back as 2014. That includes traditional information gathering efforts and operations that were “likely aimed at preparing to discredit the integrity of the U.S. voting process and election results.” The report also notes evidence “collection gaps” have obscured the full scope of Russian activity.
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), chair of the committee, noted the investigation has been a “bipartisan effort from day one.” He added that the committee has been “working tirelessly to give Americans a complete accounting of what happened in 2016 and to prevent any future interference with our democratic process.”
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, vice chair of the committee, said he remains concerned that the country is not fully prepared for the 2018 midterm elections. Warner added that the committee decided to release as much information as possible about the threat “so that governments at every level take it seriously and take the necessary steps to defend ourselves.”
The summary identifies ongoing vulnerabilities posed by outdated voting systems and voting systems without a paper record of votes so that digital vote tallying systems can be audited. Additional vulnerabilities remain in voter registration databases, electronic poll books, vote casting and unofficial election night reporting, the report concludes.
“While our investigation remains ongoing, one conclusion is clear: the Russians were relentless in attempting to meddle in the 2016 election, and they will continue their efforts,” U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), a member of the committee, said. “The findings and recommendations we are releasing today are a major step forward in our effort to thwart any attempt to meddle in our elections. With the 2018 election fast approaching, the need to act now is urgent. We must provide states the assistance they need to strengthen the security of their voting systems.”
The report recommends that states continue to run the election process, and that the federal government clearly communicate consequences of attacks on election systems to adversaries. The committee made additional recommendations to improving information sharing on threats, to secure election-related systems, to secure voting systems, and to provide additional assistance to states.