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Secretary of State warns of risks if federal election cybersecurity programs are cut
Summary
Paul Pate said Iowa relies on federal cybersecurity support and partnerships to protect voter registration systems and that changes to federal programs could be 'pretty serious.' He reiterated that Iowa's vote tabulation equipment is not online but that registration databases remain a target.
Paul Pate, Iowa secretary of state, warned that changes or reductions to federal election cybersecurity programs would be consequential for Iowa and other states that rely on federal support and interagency partnerships.
“It would be pretty serious, and we've had conversations with them on that regard,” Pate said on Iowa Press about federal plans to reformat or suspend cybersecurity programs. He said states receive cyber protections and technical support that help defend voter-registration databases and other election-related systems.
Pate noted that Iowa’s vote tabulation systems are not connected to the internet, but stressed that voter registration databases and other state systems still require active defense because foreign adversaries and other bad actors routinely attempt intrusions. “We want to make sure the voter registration database is secure as well, because they're always a bad actor out there who wants to show they're the smartest,” he said.
He said he was awaiting detail on how the federal programs would be restructured but expected continued support in some form. Pate said Iowa partners with state agencies and federal entities to maintain cybersecurity protections and would prefer continuation of coordinated assistance.
