Advocates call for paper ballots in Georgia amid FBI review

By KATHLEEN FOODY
Mar. 14, 2017 6:44 PM EDT

ATLANTA (AP) — A group of technology experts said Tuesday that Georgia's top elections officials should stop using electronic voting machines as the FBI reviews a suspected data breach.

Secretary of State Brian Kemp and Kennesaw State University this month confirmed a federal investigation focused on the school's Center for Election Systems. The center tests and certifies Georgia's voting machines and electronic polling books used to check in voters at polling locations. Employees also format ballots for every election held in the state.

The center isn't part of Kemp's office or connected to its networks, including Georgia's database of registered voters maintained by the secretary of state's office. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution first reported the investigation into the suspected cyberattack.

In a letter to Kemp on Tuesday, 20 technology experts and computer science professors affiliated with the national Verified Voting organization said paper ballots will preserve voters' confidence in the results of an upcoming special election to fill Georgia's 6th District congressional seat. The letter said using equipment maintained by the center while it is the focus of a criminal investigation "can raise deep concerns."

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