State, national leaders work to protect Rhode Island elections from cyberattacks

October 26, 2018 4:30 pm

By: Amanda Pitts

alpitts@abc6.com

@APittsABC6

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — With voters set to hit the polls in less than two weeks, Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea detailed upgrades designed to keep hackers from interfering in the election.

“Rhode Island has made investments into state-of-the-art voting machines and other systems, and these are improving access to the ballot box, while still protecting the integrity of every vote,” said Gorbea.

The topic of cybersecurity has been in the headlines since 2016 when government hackers got into the Democratic National Committee’s network, gaining access to their entire database.

“Russia and other foreign adversaries have the intention and are continuing to attempt to influence our elections and to attack our democracy,” said Congressman David Cicilline.

Congressman David Cicilline and Jim Langevin met before the press conference with Gorbea for a security update. Gorbea outlined that $3 million of funding from the Help American Vote Act (HAVA) is being used to strengthen the infrastructure of our elections.

“About half of it is actually going further protecting our central voter registration system, as well as after the election, we’re gonna go through a process of actually rebuilding,” said Gorbea.

The other half is going to the Board of Elections, and to cities and towns to strengthen their own systems.

Their best advice for voters is to just turn up at the polls.

“I want to let Rhode Islanders know that the best way for them to help us in this defense is to stay informed and to vote.”

The Department of Homeland Security said all 50 states are participating in securing their elections, and on Election Day, they’re sending advisors to every state and also offering virtual help.

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