Category Archives: EAC

Pennsylvania moves to replace all paperless voting machines by 2020

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Pennsylvania says it will replace all voting machines that do not produce a paper record for each vote by 2020. Acting Pennsylvania Secretary of State Robert Torres instructed all counties on Thursday to put machines in place that have a voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) by the end of 2019, and “preferably in place by the November 2019 general election,” according to a press release. “We want to bring about the system upgrades so Pennsylvania voters are voting on the most secure and auditable equipment as promptly and feasibly as possible, while also being supportive of the counties’ need to plan and budget for the new systems,” Torres said in a statement. Having a VVPAT means that even if a voter makes selections on an electronic ballot, they will be able to confirm their choices on a paper ballot that can be used in an audit. Election security experts have advocated […]

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Matthew Masterson joins NPPD as senior cybersecurity adviser

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Former Election Assistance Commission Chairman Matthew Masterson is joining the Department of Homeland Security’s office that coordinates the agency’s election cybersecurity programs. Christopher Krebs, acting Under Secretary of DHS’s National Protection and Programs Directorate, announced in a press release Monday that the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications is bringing Masterson on as a senior cybersecurity adviser. “There are few who have Matt’s experience working with all levels of government and the private sector to protect our nation’s election systems,” Krebs said. “Matt is one of the most equipped to advise on this non-partisan issue and will be an asset to the organization. In a time where technology is constantly evolving, it is more important than ever that DHS maintains productive and trusted relationships with our partners.” Masterson served as an EAC commissioner from December 2014 until last month. Masterson has also served in various roles in Ohio’s Secretary of State’s office, […]

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New EAC chairman will continue to focus on election security

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Thomas Hicks has been tapped to chair the Election Assistance Commission, an agency that is considered central to protecting the U.S. election infrastructure from cyberthreats, the commission announced on Friday. Reuters reported on Thursday that Republican House Speaker, Rep. Paul Ryan, decided not to recommend former chairman Matthew Masterson for a second term as one of the EAC’s four commissioners. Commissioners are recommended by congressional leadership, nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. According to Reuters, some state officials were surprised that Masterson was not considered for a second term as commissioner, given that he has focused much of his tenure on cybersecurity. Hicks’s term as chairman began on Feb. 24, the day after the announcement. Hicks has served as an EAC commissioner since December 2014. He previously served as chairman from February 2016 to February 2017. “I was working on [Capitol] Hill when the Help America Vote Act was […]

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DHS, election officials begin work to protect voting systems ahead of 2018 elections

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As the U.S. government takes early steps to roll out a collaborative cybersecurity framework designed to protect election systems, the pressure is now on state election officials and the Department of Homeland Security to hash out the details in less than two years. Over the weekend, DHS shared how the government plans to implement the designation of election systems as “critical infrastructure,” an important categorization announced during the Obama administration that effectively allocates additional resources and defenses to related systems. A rough draft of this strategy was described in a meeting with state election officials, the FBI and the Election Assistance Commission over the weekend. The plan has four objectives: information sharing, collaboration, threat and risk analysis, and ensuring that states have appropriately updated defense systems, according to Politico. Matthew Masterson, EAC Chair, said that the timeliness of DHS’s plan appeared to be the primary concerns for state election officials who […]

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Exchange Cumulative Updates and Distribution List Upgrades

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Exchange Admin Center convert DL

The quarterly cumulative updates for Exchange Server quietly appeared with little fuss this week. Meanwhile, in cloud land, Office 365 continues the crusade to eradicate distribution lists with new bulk conversions to Office 365 Groups.

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Microsoft’s Crusade to Convince Office 365 Tenants to Move Away from Distribution Groups

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Microsoft is very keen that Office 365 tenants should move away from email distribution groups to embrace the world of Office 365 Groups. There is lots to like about Groups, but I have some doubts about the way Microsoft is cajoling people to move.

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Convert Your Old Distribution Lists to Office 365 Groups

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DL Convert to Office 365 Groups

Microsoft is convinced that Office 365 tenants should move from old-fashioned email distribution lists to embrace the new world of collaboration enabled by Office 365 Groups. A new conversation method allows OWA users to convert DLs that they own. Is it a winner?

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Election-systems cybersecurity would take a hit under new House bill, experts say

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Legislation recently introduced in the House that seeks to terminate the Election Assistance Commission, or EAC, would hamper coordination efforts between state and federal officials at a time when cybersecurity concerns are top of mind, experts tell CyberScoop. The bill, H.R. 634, would effectively gut what is considered to be one of the only organized bodies […]

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Election-systems cybersecurity would take a hit under new House bill, experts say

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Legislation recently introduced in the House that seeks to terminate the Election Assistance Commission, or EAC, would hamper coordination efforts between state and federal officials at a time when cybersecurity concerns are top of mind, experts tell CyberScoop. The bill, H.R. 634, would effectively gut what is considered to be one of the only organized bodies […]

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