Election officials throughout the U.S., concerned over Russia's hacking efforts during the 2016 elections, are looking at the possibility of returning to paper ballots, The Boston Globe reports.
Virginia already has returned to a paper ballot system as a way of fighting any foreign interference, the Globe said. In Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolfe ordered election officials to make certain that new voting equipment also produces a paper record. And in Georgia, lawmakers are looking at legislation at a paper ballots to replace the current touch-screen system, according to the newspaper.
"I've always been in favor of paper ballots, even when it was fashionable to use electronic systems," said Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin. "You take the card, you mark your choices, you take it to the box. You ensure it's counted. All the cards are retained. If there's a question you can go in and count the cards."
Massachusetts is one of a handful of states prohibiting full electronic voting.
"This is really about whether the voters have trust in our method of choosing our leaders, which is essential for our democracy,'' said David Becker, executive director for the Center for Election Innovation and Research. "Russia has been absolutely essential in diminishing that trust."
Special counsel Robert Mueller has charged 13 Russian nationals and three Russian groups for interfering with the 2016 elections.
A series of tweets by President Donald Trump over the weekend included his claims that President Barack Obama did not do enough to stop the Russia interference.
"At the state level, we're doing everything we can," said Vermont Secretary of State James Condos, a Democrat. "All the states, red states or blue states, are diligent and focused about trying to protect their systems. But it goes back to the top. If the president is not willing to help us, then we've got to fend for ourselves."
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