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WILKES-BARRE – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale this week said he will monitor Tuesday’s general election as part of his efforts to protect the security and integrity of Pennsylvania’s voting system, both now and heading into the 2020 election cycle.
“We will be watching for any issues that may need to be addressed before the next big vote in 2020,” DePasquale said.
In June, he announced that he would conduct an audit to evaluate the integrity and security of Pennsylvania’s voting system. That audit is based in part on information provided by Homeland Security last year confirming that Pennsylvania was one of 21 states Russian hackers targeted prior to the 2016 election.
The audit is focusing on the Department of State’s Statewide Uniform Registry of Electors (SURE) and includes the following objectives:
• Review of security protocols of the SURE system.
• Assessment of whether records maintained with the SURE system are accurate and in accordance with the Help America Vote Act and Pennsylvania law.
• Evaluation of the process for input and maintenance of voter registration records.
• Review of the efficiency and accuracy of the SURE system.
• Review of the external controls, methodology for the issuance of directives and guidance to the counties by DOS regarding voter registration and list maintenance.
“As Pennsylvania is now exploring options to modernize its election systems, I also want to ensure that any system Pennsylvania may adopt is wholly owned, controlled and managed by a firm with American interests,” DePasquale said. “We cannot risk allowing foreign interests to interfere with our most basic right as Americans — a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”