Pennsylvania to test security of voter-registration system in time for 2020 elections

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale will test the security of the state’s voter-registration system, which was the target of Russian hacking attempts before the 2016 presidential election.

Pennsylvania was one of 21 states targeted by Russian hackers, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said last year. There is no evidence of a breach, Acting Secretary of State Robert Torres said during a news conference Monday to announce the audit.

The audit will focus on the Statewide Uniform Registry of Electors, which holds the registration information of about 8 million voters in the state’s 67 counties. The Pennsylvania Department of State runs the system.

The audit will be completed as soon as possible so the department can make necessary changes for the 2020 presidential election, Mr. DePasquale said. The process will assess whether the SURE system’s records are accurate and secure.

The Department of State will use the results as it seeks to replace the 16-year-old SURE system.

“There is zero question that Russians tried to hack it and to interfere in the 2016 election process in Pennsylvania,” Mr. DePasquale said Monday.

Mr. DePasquale said he reached an agreement with

legislators to audit the state’s voting system. Legislation to require an audit, introduced last year by state Sen. Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland, passed the Senate and remains in the House of Representatives.

Ms. Ward said she proposed the legislation to “put conspiracies to rest” about Russian hacking in the 2016 election.

“It’s not a Republican issue, it’s not a Democratic issue,” Ms. Ward added. “It is a citizen-have-confidence-inyour-election-process issue.”