Note that this is my own summary and not a copy and paste from Bradblog, to see their content see link at the end of this article…
As security breaches threaten the integrity of elections, experts call for recounts to ensure accuracy and restore public trust.
In a time when securing the democratic process is more critical than ever, a group of leading computer security experts has issued a powerful plea to Vice President Kamala Harris, urging her to demand hand recounts in key battleground states following the November 2024 election. These experts are concerned about the vulnerability of voting systems, particularly in light of prior breaches that have left the integrity of election results in question.
The call comes on the heels of revelations that Trump allies breached voting systems in several states as early as 2021. The security experts are worried that these breaches, which involved copying and distributing proprietary software, could have far-reaching implications, opening the door for hackers and other malicious actors to manipulate election outcomes.
The breach in Coffee County, Georgia, where Trump supporters unlawfully accessed and copied the state’s voting software, is a stark example of how easily election systems can be compromised. The security vulnerabilities discovered in Georgia prompted nationwide warnings from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Yet, despite these concerns, Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, refused to apply the necessary security patches before the 2024 election, leaving the state’s voting systems exposed.
As the election results are tabulated by computer systems, experts argue that without a manual examination of the ballots—such as hand recounts or Risk Limiting Audits (RLAs)—it is impossible to verify the true accuracy of the reported outcomes. This uncertainty is why these experts are calling for transparency through hand recounts, particularly in swing states like Michigan, Nevada, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, where the stakes of the election are incredibly high.
In a letter to Harris, the experts emphasize that they are not suggesting that the election results in these states were compromised, but rather that routine recounts should be standard practice to ensure the highest level of election security. As they point out, with the known vulnerabilities in voting system software and the documented breaches, recounts are essential not only to validate the results but also to send a clear message about the importance of cybersecurity in elections moving forward.
Dr. Duncan Buell, a professor of computer science at the University of South Carolina and one of the signatories of the letter, strongly criticizes the security of current voting systems. Describing the software used in many voting machines as “crap,” he warns that unless ballots are physically examined, we cannot know for certain if the reported results reflect the true will of the people. Buell’s expertise in voting system vulnerabilities highlights the alarming risks of relying solely on automated tabulations, which could be easily manipulated by bad actors who gain access to the underlying software.
This urgent call for transparency comes at a time when the public’s trust in elections is already fragile. In the wake of the 2020 election, numerous unfounded conspiracy theories have undermined confidence in the electoral process. However, the experts are careful to clarify that their call for recounts is not a response to unfounded allegations of fraud but a necessary step to ensure the accuracy of election results, especially when the security of the systems in question has been compromised.
In addition to the discussions about election security, the BradCast also delves into a more personal topic: the recent auction of right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ assets. In a surprising turn, Jones’ Infowars website, archives, and equipment were purchased by the satirical news site The Onion as part of a liquidation process following a nearly $1.5 billion judgment against him. The ruling came after Jones spent years spreading false claims about the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, which led to immense pain and suffering for the victims’ families. This segment also includes Brad Friedman’s personal recollections of his past encounters with Jones, offering a unique and insightful perspective on the man behind the controversial conspiracy theories.
Finally, Desi Doyen joins the conversation to share the latest updates in the Green News Report, which covers the ongoing climate crisis. From record droughts and wildfires in New York and New Jersey to the global calls for action at the U.N. Climate Summit, the report underscores the urgent need for climate solutions. This is especially relevant in the context of the recent U.S. election, where climate change denial continues to be a major political force, threatening to undo the progress made over the past few years.
In a time when the stakes have never been higher, the call for election transparency, secure voting systems, and accountability is one that cannot be ignored. As we face both the challenges of safeguarding democracy and combating the climate crisis, it is clear that cooperation, vigilance, and integrity will be essential to the survival of our democratic institutions and the health of our planet.