Washington State began building security controls twenty years ago when it first moved to tabulating votes on network systems rather than mainframe computers.  Now tabulating functions are never connected to a network and all election results are uploaded only by one-way flash drives with dual controls for every step involved. The steps prevent any outside access to tabulation data via the network.  Of course, Washington is a paper ballot state, so it maintains a paper record of every vote cast.  To ensure the scanners accurately reflect the paper votes, her office conducts pre-election, post-election, and spot auditing of the machines.  Using some of the $8 million Washington received from a congressional authorization of $400 million following the 2016 presidential election, Secretary Wyman has forged partnerships with the Washington National Guard and the Department of Homeland Security, conducted a recent tabletop exercise on possible election disruptions, and is installing Albert sensors in all 39 counties and the Secretary of State's office. The Albert sensors recognize unusual activity and voting patterns and immediately sound an alarm.   

 

Responding to questions, Secretary Wyman explained the basis for requiring physical addresses, reassured overseas and military voters that their votes are counted, and confirmed that Washington State voter roles are never purged.  Volunteering the amazing fact that, in a post-2016 audit, Washington State reviewed the 3.2 million votes cast and found only 75 suspicious votes, she resoundingly urged us to have confidence going into the elections!