DHS Mandates Audits for Voting Machines with Chinese Parts

Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of the Department of Homeland Security has announced a new requirement for all states receiving homeland security funding for election assistance. These states must now conduct a 5% random paper ballot audit after elections. This mandate directly links the use of Chinese-made components in vote-counting machines to significant security risks, emphasizing the need for enhanced oversight. The implementation of verifying machine results against paper records marks a historic shift in the approach to election integrity.

Intelligence reports have confirmed that China stands as the most persistent global cyber threat, a finding reiterated by the Biden administration. These assessments also confirm that China, alongside Iran and Russia, possesses the technical capability to access various U.S. election-related networks and systems. This capability underscores the urgency behind new security measures like the mandated audits.

Tricia McLaughlin, a former Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, has described the newly mandated 5% audit as merely a 'band-aid' but acknowledges it as a crucial first step forward. She highlighted the stark contrast between election security protocols and the stringent standards applied to U.S. government mobile devices operating in China, where supply chain integrity is paramount. McLaughlin advocates for the Department of Commerce to actively ensure the manufacturing of critical election components occurs within the United States, thereby reducing reliance on foreign supply chains. The extensive presence of foreign-made components, particularly from China, in voting machines underscores a profound critical infrastructure failure that requires immediate and comprehensive attention beyond audits.

Cleta Mitchell emphasizes that the Secretary of Homeland Security serves as the primary agency risk manager for critical infrastructure, including all aspects of elections, not just the technology itself. She urges the DHS, CISA, and the Department of Commerce to implement immediate mitigation remedies. Mitchell stresses that the current risks posed by foreign-made components necessitate decisive action well before the upcoming election, highlighting the critical need for a proactive and comprehensive security strategy.

The intelligence community reportedly became aware of Chinese parts in U.S. election machines in 2020. Despite this discovery, six years passed with minimal action taken to address these identified threats. John Solomon points out that significant steps to rectify these concerns have only recently been initiated, specifically by President Trump in the past month.

In 2019, Senator Wyden introduced a bill aimed at strengthening oversight of voting machines, which initially garnered bipartisan support. However, Cleta Mitchell claims that after the 2020 election, Democrats shifted their stance, moving from expressing concern over vulnerabilities to dismissing criticism regarding election integrity. She further alleges a pattern of 'gaslighting' concerning known election intelligence reports, suggesting a deliberate downplaying of security risks after the electoral outcome.

Cleta Mitchell clarifies that she does not advocate for the complete manual hand-counting of all ballots, acknowledging the potential for mission errors in such a process. Instead, she proposes a system where electronic tabulators are used, with their results confirmed through manual, paper-based verification. Mitchell also emphasizes the critical need to prioritize cleaning up voter rolls as a foundational step for enhancing election security and integrity.