Senators call for more safeguards in midterm vote

Panel points to Russian meddling in 2016 election in issuing cyberattack warnings

WASHINGTON — Government efforts to protect state and local elections from Russian cyberattacks in 2016 didn’t go far enough, leaders of the Senate intelligence committee said Tuesday as the panel released recommendations to safeguard against foreign meddling in the primary season that’s already underway.

Federal warnings last time did not provide enough information or in some cases go to the right people in state and local governments, the committee’s leaders said, though they reiterated that there was no evidence votes were changed. Russian agents targeted election systems in 21 states ahead of the 2016 general election, the Homeland Security Department has said, and top U.S. intelligence officials have said they’ve seen indications Russian agents are preparing a new round of election interference this year.

The committee’s recommendations include urging states to make sure voting machines have paper audit trails and aren’t capable of being connected to the internet. Senators also are pushing for better communication among the various U.S. intelligence agencies and federal, state and local governments about cyberthreats and vulnerabilities in computer systems.

The committee’s recommendations preview an election security report expected to be released in the coming weeks. It is the first of three reports the panel plans to write in its wideranging investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

Committee Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the panel, released a preview of committee recommendations ahead of a Wednesday hearing examining attempted hacks on state election systems in 2016 and the federal and state response.

Even with Republican and Democratic support, it’s unclear if the recommendations will translate into legislation. Burr said his panel doesn’t have jurisdiction over the issues, so another committee would have to write any bills in Congress.

“While our investigation is still ongoing, one conclusion is clear: The Russians were relentless in attempting to meddle in the 2016 elections, and they will continue their efforts to undermine public confidence in Western democracies and in the legitimacy of our elections,” Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said.