The Nation’s Best Hackers Found Vulnerabilities in Voting Machines – But No Time To Fix Them

Hackers at the DEF CON conference in Las Vegas identified vulnerabilities in voting machines slated for use in the 2024 U.S. election, but fixes are unlikely to be implemented before November 5, organizers said. The annual “Voting Village” event, held away from the main conference floor due to security concerns, drew election officials and cybersecurity experts. Organizers plan to release a detailed report on the vulnerabilities found.

Catherine Terranova, an event organizer, said major systemic changes are difficult to make 90 days before an election, particularly given heightened scrutiny of election security in 2024. The process of addressing vulnerabilities involves manufacturer approval, recertification by authorities, and updating individual devices. This typically takes longer than the time remaining before the election, according to Scott Algeier, executive director of the Information Technology-Information Sharing and Analysis Center. The event comes amid ongoing concerns about foreign targeting of U.S. elections, including a recent hack of former President Donald Trump’s campaign, reportedly by Iran.