WASHINGTON – Committee on House Administration Chairman Candice Miller (R-MI), and former Michigan Secretary of State, issued the following statement regarding the recent reports of cyberattacks on Illinois’ and Arizona’s state voter registration databases:

“A chief responsibility of our Committee is conducting oversight of our nation’s federal elections – a responsibility that I take very seriously. Any potential security breach of a state’s voter registration system or database causes great concern.

“As the former chief election official for the state of Michigan, I have learned, firsthand, about the difficulties and challenges related to election administration and vote count accuracy, and I have long believed that the best, most secure method of voting is with tried and true paper ballots and the use of opti-scan machines – a belief underscored by the recent hacking of state systems. A paper ballot cast by an eligible voter ensures the accuracy and auditability of each vote and allows for election officials to easily verify and recount vote tallies should there be any question of the vote accuracy. Furthermore, paper ballots greatly limit the threat of security breaches affecting the vote count.

“Today, with more and more cyber warfare being initiated by hostile actors, we face ever-increasing risks associated with electronic systems, especially given budgetary restrictions challenging states’ ability to properly maintain and protect them against hackers. Absent the ability to guarantee the integrity of our electronic systems, states need to employ systems that give voters the assurances they deserve. Our Democracy depends on an elections process that is open to all eligible voters, auditable, and secure.”

CHA