SPOKANE, Wash. — The security of our election infrastructure is a big topic across the nation right now.
Following the 2016 presidential election, the Department of Homeland security reportedly contacted 21 states to alert them that Russia had attempted to hack their election systems.
Officials reported there was no evidence that vote totals had been affected, but in the months since, many have begun to worry about the likelihood that these attacks will happen again in future elections.
There are some, though, who have been worrying for a lot longer, like Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton. She said election officials like her have been begging for voting and cybersecurity upgrades for nearly a decade.
“Election officials across the US are just thankful that Congress has finally listened to us in our pleas for additional funding to improve and upgrade our election systems and to prepare for the cyber attacks that are probably going to happen,” Dalton said.
In addition to the $8 million from the federal government, another $400,000 will be coming from the state of Washington for these upgrades.
“Ensuring that our systems are hardened, that we're kept aware of what state players are doing to try to attack our elections systems, and then also to educate our employees about what they need to do,” Dalton said.
Dalton said voters will not likely notice any difference.
She will now be joining officials from other counties to help the state in its planning. Dalton said they will be working to have this new infrastructure in place before the 2020 elections.