In the rush to replace insecure, unreliable
electronic voting machines after Russia’s
interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential race,
state and local officials have scrambled to
acquire more trustworthy equipment for this
year’s election, when U.S. intelligence agencies
fear even worse problems.
But instead of choosing simple, hand-marked
paper ballots that are most resistant to
tampering because paper cannot be hacked,
many are opting for pricier technology that
computer security experts consider almost as
risky as earlier discredited electronic systems.
Called ballot-marking devices, the machines
have touchscreens for registering voter choice.
Unlike touchscreen-only machines, they print
out paper records that are scanned by optical
readers. South Carolina voters will use them in
Saturday’s primary.