Cybersecurity experts agree: requesting ballots by email is safe

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A group of leading cybersecurity experts told an Ohio court that absentee ballot applications can be safely transmitted using email, countering the secretary of state’s assertions that the practice would open up voting in the presidential battleground to outside interference.

In a filing late Monday, eight experts in computer information and engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Georgetown, Princeton and other universities joined the American Civil Liberties Union and the Brennan Center for Justice in asking a state appellate court to allow the ballot applications to be accepted by electronic means.

“Election officials can easily facilitate electronic submission of applications at little cost while minimizing associated security risks,” their filing said. “Ideally this should be done by a secure online portal, but it is also feasible to do so using email.”

That argument contrasts with the position expressed by Republican Secretary of State Frank Larose, who said a judge’s Sept. 11 ruling “rolls out the red carpet to Russian hackers — painting a giant bullseye on the back of our election system and upending the significant progress Ohio has made on elections cybersecurity.”

Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Stephen Mcintosh’s decision granted the Ohio Democratic Party’s motion seeking to block a directive by Larose prohibiting submission of absentee ballot applications by electronic means, including email or fax.

Larose’s order remains in effect, on orders of the 10th District Court of Appeals, while the state makes its case. Oral arguments are set for Thursday.

In its brief, the Ohio Democratic Party argues that Larose and the state are making efforts to “overcomplicate the issues” in what is a clear question of law.