Wisconsin should do more to prevent election interference

No matter what President Trump may claim, it is clear that Russians made attempts to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. And it is increasingly clear that Russia is not done with its meddling. Even here in Wisconsin. There is evidence Russian hackers have been testing the vulnerability of elections in Wisconsin and other states for years, and experts warn the 2018 midterm elections are a potential target of cyberattacks and misinformation. Wisconsin and other battleground states were targeted by a social media campaign. Fake websites providing fake news designed to spread misinformation. Hackers linked to the Kremlin also probed Wisconsin state government websites and those of the Democratic party of Wisconsin. Despite that Trump may say, why should we believe that hackers won’t try to influence the coming election as well. Voters in Wisconsin head to the polls for a primary election on August 14, and the general election is November 6. We should provide the resources to ensure our election system is safe from hackers, Russian or otherwise. One idea, recommended by the Senate Intelligence Committee, is something called “risk-limiting auditing,” basically recounting a small sample of ballots to verify the results of election outcomes. It would be a simple but important step to help ensure the integrity of our elections and our democracy.