The Politico article from 2019 details the urgent efforts to secure U.S. voting systems after Russian interference in the 2016 election exposed critical vulnerabilities. It highlights how approximately 90% of American counties used voting machines that were at least a decade old, with some relying on Windows XP or earlier operating systems.
Key challenges included:
- Outdated paperless machines in 12 states that couldn’t provide reliable audit trails
- Insufficient federal funding for upgrades despite $380 million allocated in 2018
- Complex certification processes slowing replacement efforts
Notable state responses featured:
- Pennsylvania replacing all voting machines by 2020
- Georgia abandoning its paperless system after security concerns
- Texas counties facing legal battles over machine purchases
The article emphasizes lingering security concerns even with paper ballot systems, particularly around voter-marked paper ballots versus machine-printed ones. It underscores the tension between security needs and voting accessibility requirements under the Help America Vote Act.
ScrollyTelling methods in use
The Politico article employs scrollytelling—a hybrid of scrolling and interactive storytelling—to transform complex election security data into an immersive, user-driven narrative.