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Election Day is approaching, but is your vote safe from hackers?

45 views · Published 30 October 2018 · 2:47 · Indexed 27 September 2026

Channel: LOCAL 12 · 2018 · News & Politics

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CINCINNATI (WKRC) - Early voting is up at the Hamilton County Board of Elections and workers say part of it is the new location in Norwood.

"People are just coming to vote," Earmon Powell, a volunteer at the Board of Elections, said. "They're just tired of seeing the same old and they're just ready to make a change."

Elizabeth Williams came to the board to vote early. 

 "It's easy and it's a duty. I want to do it," Williams said.

The integrity of the process is on many people's minds. They want to make sure the vote isn't tampered with.

"I'm convinced with the location and everything and how they redeveloped the setting and everything like that," voter Quincy Buchannon said. "So yeah. I'm convinced." 

There are numerous checks in place to make sure voting here is as secure as possible, including voting on a paper ballot.

"That paper ballot if the election is close is used in a recount and also every election is audited after the election where there's a comparison a hand count," Hamilton County Board of Elections Director Sherry Poland said.

The equipment is tested at the site by bi-partisan election officials.

"There's a checklist that they go through, logic and accuracy testing is conducted on every single piece of equipment," Poland said.

The integrity of some machines is being questioned.

Election Systems & Software's Model 650 was recently under scrutiny at a hacker conference because of an alleged security flaw.

ES&S has machines in the Tri-State area, but the specific models are not used in any of the local Ohio or Indiana counties.

The model is not in use in Boone, Grant, Campbell, and Kenton counties either.

Poland says if voters ever have questions about the integrity of the process, they should volunteer at the polls and see it up close.

"We still have openings for poll workers for Election Day, it's not too late. So I encourage them to be a part of the process," Poland said.

Election Systems & Software issued a statement to the Wall Street Journal saying that the company is "dedicated to the security of our nation's elections since its founding 40 years ago and proactively evolves security practices as threats evolve."

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