Federal Election Agency Drops Language Banning Voting Equipment That Connects to the Internet: AP Report

Within the aftermath of 2020, election integrity is on each good conservative’s thoughts.

Throughout the nation, state legislatures are stepping up (and Texas Democrats are stepping out) to be sure that each authorized vote is counted and that our elections are secure and safe.

Naturally, these efforts have garnered primarily damaging consideration from left-wing media.

What has not been publicized wherever close to as a lot was the truth that the federal authorities was doing the identical factor — however now isn’t.

In keeping with The Associated Press, the U.S. Election Help Fee ready draft tips on election safety in February that didn’t embody language banning voting gear with web connectivity.

The EAC doesn’t have binding authority, however some states apply federal tips to the letter, which means the fee’s phrases have an actual impression on American voters.

Sadly, the ban’s absence within the February tips doesn’t seem like a mistake. The AP reported that voting machine business officers had non-public conferences with federal regulators, and the change got here shortly after.

You’d suppose that the voting machine business would have a vested curiosity in guaranteeing that its machines are secure and safe, however evidently, for some, election integrity can burn on the altar of revenue.

It’s not necessary if on-line evildoers hack voting machines and alter outcomes if the executives make their cash, in spite of everything.

Luckily, Free Speech for Individuals, a left-wing nonprofit, has filed a lawsuit towards the EAC alleging the fee violated transparency guidelines in its conferences with business leaders.

Susan Greenhalgh, talking for the group, advised the AP that the fee was supposed to incorporate the general public in each step of the regulatory course of.

“As a substitute, the EAC overtly flouted its authorized obligation to stick to a clear course of, selecting as a substitute to ask the producers into non-public conferences so they may alter the voting system requirements to ease necessities and profit the producers,” she continued.

The AP mentioned the lawsuit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Courtroom in Washington.

EAC officers defended their new tips, asserting that beneath the brand new guidelines, any function that permits a voting machine to hook up with the web “should be disabled.”

The earlier guidelines, they decided, put an undue burden on voting machine producers and considerably elevated their bills.

I’m no laptop whiz (my strategy is often to scream at know-how till it really works), however one thing doesn’t really feel proper about all of this.

As a voter, I’m far more snug with the notion that any machine I exploit is essentially unable to make use of the web. I don’t need to be the particular person whose voice is smothered by hostile actors.

Whereas this wouldn’t have an effect on all states, those through which it might concern me. Evidently, I’m not the one one. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose reassured his constituents final month that his state could be taking a stronger stance.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose mentioned his state’s voting machine requirements go additional than the U.S. Election Help Fee’s, which didn’t ban Wi-Fi capabilities @FrankLaRose @EACgov https://t.co/vHagjwSCmg pic.twitter.com/H7p7pt4804

— StateScoop (@State_Scoop) June 17, 2021

I hope the lawsuit succeeds. Our elections should not one thing through which we will minimize corners.