Des Moines, Iowa — The state’s top election official says there’s zero evidence Iowa’s vote counting systems could be hacked or infiltrated.
Secretary of State Paul Pate says every ballot is a paper ballot and none of the ballot tabulators poll workers will use on Tuesday are connected to the internet.
Pate held a news conference this past week with federal and state officials who are monitoring election-related threats. Pate referred to a situation in Arizona, where armed people were observing voters putting their absentee ballots at drop boxes.
Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens says voter intimidation hasn’t traditionally been a problem in Iowa.
About 10,000 Iowans will be working at precinct sites around the state on Tuesday and Pate is urging voters to treat them with respect.
The day after the election, Pate will order a hand count of ballots cast in a randomly selected precinct in each Iowa county. Two statewide races will be identified as the subject of the recounts. Pate says these post-election audits in the past have clearly shown Iowans that the vote tallies announced on Election Night are accurate.
Pate hosted Thursday’s news conference in the State of Iowa’s Emergency Operations Center. State officials will gather there on Tuesday to monitor and respond to any election-related threats.
