States struggle to vet coders for election software blind spots

TLDR:

Key Points:

• New Hampshire election officials hired a small IT firm called WSD Digital to replace their voter registration database.
• WSD Digital offshored part of the work to coders outside the U.S., raising concerns about security and vetting.

In a bid to upgrade their voter registration database, New Hampshire election officials enlisted the help of a small IT firm, WSD Digital. However, unsettling discoveries were made as the project progressed. The firm had offshored part of the work, which meant that unknown coders outside the U.S. had access to the software that would impact the upcoming election in New Hampshire. This raised serious concerns about the security and vetting processes in place for election software developers.

Given the sensitive nature of election technology and the potential consequences of security breaches, states across the country are facing challenges in vetting coders and ensuring the integrity of their election software. This case highlights the importance of robust security measures and thorough vetting processes to safeguard the democratic process.