On July 13, 2018, special counsel Mueller’s team indicted 12 Russian agents for interfering with the 2016 U.S. elections by stealing voter data, attempting to access voting systems in 21 states, and conducting cyber-attacks on Hillary Clinton’s campaign offices. Days later, following a summit with Putin in Helsinki, Trump dismissed the conclusions drawn by Mueller’s team, the FBI, and the Senate Intelligence Committee that Russia deliberately sought to influence the 2016 election results. By brushing these allegations aside, Trump has emboldened Russia to repeat their electoral attacks in 2018 and 2020.
In March, the Senate Intelligence Committee issued a series of recommendations for securing elections, including mandating paper ballots, ensuring safe storage of ballots, and disconnecting voting machines from the internet. These security measures are especially crucial given the recent revelation that the top producer of U.S. voting machines installed remote access software, which renders machines much more vulnerable to hacking, on an unknown number of their election management systems. In response, Democrats in the House and Senate have introduced the Protecting American Votes and Elections Act to mandate nationwide paper ballots and risk-limiting audits in all federal elections. State Secretaries of State can implement other election protection strategies at the state level. Given Trump’s weak response to Russia’s actions and extensive evidence that Russia can access state voting systems, it is more critical than ever for states and Congress to secure voting systems before the 2018 midterms.
Contact your MOCs today and ask them to support paper ballots and election audits.
Turner: 202-225-6495
Brown: (202) 224-2315
Portman: (202) 224-3353
Hi, my name is [NAME], and I’m a constituent from Dayton.
If calling Congress I’m calling today to urge [TURNER/PORTMAN/BROWN] to support [H.R. 6093 if House, S. 3049 if Senate], the Protecting American Votes and Elections Act, to mandate paper ballots and election audits. It is absolutely critical for Congress to do everything it can to preserve the integrity of our elections.
If calling Governor or Secretary of State I’m calling to urge [NAME] to implement the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee’s recommendations to secure our elections, including adopting paper ballots and disconnecting voting machines from the internet. It is absolutely critical for the state to do everything it can to preserve the integrity of our elections.
Thank you for your time and attention.
[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied].