Illinois National Guard joins effort to protect against hackers on Election Day

Posted on October 17, 2018
Illinois State Board of Elections chairman Bill Cadigan says voters should have zero fear that their votes will be tampered with. (Photo Courtesy Illinois National Guard Twitter)

 

By Illinois Radio Network/Benjamin Yount

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board of Elections is teaming up with the Illinois National Guard to keep votes and voter information safe this year.

Illinois’ election managers say they are doing all they can to make sure the state doesn’t get hacked again.

A hack in 2016 exposed information of 76,000 Illinois voters. Federal prosecutors charged 12 Russians in July with hacking designed to interfere with the 2016 Presidential election, which included what state officials suspect was the Illinois breach.

State Board of Elections chief Bill Cadigan said his department is monitoring Illinois’ voter databases, keeping an eye out for hackers.

Cadigan said the department will do everything it can, including calling in the National Guard.

Illinois Adjutant General Richard Hayes said the Illinois National Guard is ready to help.

“The Illinois National Guard has a robust cyber-capabilities,” Hayes said. “We’re in a role to posture ourselves to support the State of Board of Elections, and the counties, should the need assistance as the election proceeds.”

Hayes said most people don’t think election security is part of the guard’s mission. But it is.

“The Department of Defense has been in the cyber-arena for a very, very long time,” Hayes said. “So this is not unknown to us.”

Cadigan said while the hackers were able to access voter information in 2016, they did not change any votes or election results.

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