Attempted Hack Results In Call For More NC Elections Security

The State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement wants to boost its monitoring of election equipment, and increase background checks on employees. This comes on the heels of an elections website being hacked last summer.

The News and Observer reports that the board's executive director, Kim Strach, outlined future plans in an address to a Joint Legislative Election Oversight Committee last week.

Strach told the committee there was an attempted hack of state agency websites in June. The hack was quickly shut down after the FBI notified election officials.

Strach recommended that the state board hire more dedicated IT staff with expertise in cybersecurity. And she warned more safeguards should be in place to ensure unsecured voting systems wouldn't be used in elections.

Strach also said the state needs to incorporate a secure online voter registration system.