Particle.news
Download on the App Store

White House Withholds ODNI Report on Voting-Machine Flaws

Fixable software weaknesses plus internet connectivity gaps were identified in the study, leaving states without a coordinated update plan ahead of the midterms.

Wrapped voting machines wait for delivery inside the Allegheny County Elections Warehouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S., October 30, 2024. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo

Overview

  • ODNI completed an internal report that flags known vulnerabilities in U.S. voting equipment but the White House has not authorized its public release after months of review.
  • The study details specific problems such as outdated machine software and hardware that can connect to the internet, and it recommends immediate software updates and coordinated remediation.
  • The report does not claim votes were flipped, and a separate contractor review of machines seized from Puerto Rico reportedly found no evidence of hacking.
  • Leadership turnover at ODNI, with Tulsi Gabbard stepping down and Bill Pulte serving as interim director, has left the report’s fate and any next steps unclear.
  • Federal fixes would require large-scale cooperation from states and have not been implemented, which could leave some machines unpatched before the November midterms and affect voter confidence and election officials’ workloads.