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Pentagon stands behind Internet voting system for troops

CongressDailyAM January 22, 2004

An Internet-based voting system for U.S. citizens in other countries that was developed by the Pentagon is so vulnerable to attacks that it should be scrapped, security experts said in a report released Wednesday.

But the Pentagon is backing the system, which could be tested Feb. 3 in South Carolina's primary election, the Associated Press reported.

Four computer security specialists said the Secure Electronic Registration and Voting Experiment, or SERVE, could be penetrated by hackers. The hackers could alter votes or collect information about users.

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"Internet voting presents far too many opportunities for hackers or even terrorists to interfere with fair and accurate voting, potentially in ways impossible to detect,'' the computer experts said.

A Defense Department spokesman said the Pentagon was confident the system is secure. "We knew from the start that security would be the utmost concern," he said. "We've had things put in place that counteract the things they talked about."

The four experts are among 10 the Pentagon asked to study the SERVE system and look for vulnerabilities. The other security experts decided not to issue a report, he said.

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  • Oh please don't tell me DoD is in the voting business now! Did someone make DoD a sovereign state when I wasn't looking? Last I heard voters had to register in their home state and their ballots are counted there..... Or could it be that since the military is predominantly Republican-oriented that Uncle Rummy is looking for a way to garner votes for his boss.......? H Posted February 3, 2004 10:08 AM
  • I always thought that operating the machinery of voting was a state authority? Under what authority is DoD developing a internet voting system and for which states? Is this a legitimate use of DoD funding? GovExec.com reader Posted January 26, 2004 6:10 PM
  • "A Defense Department spokesman said the Pentagon was confident the system is secure. "We knew from the start that security would be the utmost concern," he said. "We've had things put in place that counteract the things they talked about." Ummmmm...uh....yeah. "Things" what "things"? As usaf analyst says the DOD has no business in this whatsoever. Any hacker worth their salt would see this as a great challenge and figure out how to "mess" with the vote. That would be just the more "fun" part..after that would ,or could, come the terrorists, ID theives etc etc. I say, let them vote absentee ballot just like anyone else if they're overseas. Counselor Posted January 26, 2004 3:04 PM
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