States opting for online voting endanger presidential primary results

WHAT: Many municipalities – including at least three states with presidential primaries scheduled for June or July – are considering voting apps or internet-based voting to circumvent health issues presented by the coronavirus pandemic.

Eugene Spafford. (Purdue University photo) Download image

EXPERT: Purdue University professor Eugene Spafford, one of the preeminent leaders in the field of cybersecurity, joined fellow experts in signing two letters to state election officials warning against internet-based voting.

Spafford is available to talk about the considerable security dangers that come with using current electronic voting technologies.

QUOTE:  “Avoiding the threat of physical virus contamination is laudable, but creating an opportunity for foreign powers and hackers to subvert our elections is not the solution.”

MORE INFORMATION

• Has served as a senior advisor or consultant for two U.S. presidents, as well as the Air Force, the National Security Agency, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Energy, not to mention technology giants Microsoft and Intel.
• Director emeritus of Purdue’s Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security.
• A member of the Cybersecurity Hall of Fame and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

CONTACT

Writer: Brian Huchel, bhuchel@purdue.edu. Working remotely but will provide immediate response.

Source: Eugene Spafford, spaf@purdue.edu. In addition to phone interviews, the professor is available for Skype, Zoom and WebEx interviews.

Note to Journalists: A picture of Eugene Spafford, along with a stock photo, is available on Google Drive.