Question #1: Sen. Walker's Response

Any electronic vote-counting software is vulnerable to hacking or manipulation, whether it is a direct recording electronic machine (touch screen) or optical scan equipment. Fortunately, Oregon does not use DRE machines that are prone to far more problems than optical scan equipment. However, the paper ballots are sent through computerized tabulators that are uploaded into the centralized system located in the Secretary of State Election’s office.

These systems are prone to hacking because they use insecure Microsoft operating systems. Indeed, according to a Voter Rights Coalition email to Elections Director John Lindback on November 13, 2007, VRC made a presentation to the Oregon Secretary of State’s office demonstrating “a successful hacking in 10 minutes on similar PC-based software that enabled us to switch votes in a test election.”

Mr. Lindback assured VRC that outside vendors do not have access to Oregon’s election software because they are under county supervision during any access points. To ensure the integrity of the elections process and that all clerks are equally trained on these and many other subjects, I would encourage all county clerks to take advantage of HAVA funding to become professionally certified through the nonprofit Election Center, also known as the National Association of Election Officials. Thirteen of Oregon’s 36 county clerks have achieved this certification known as Certified Elections/Registration Administrator (CERA).