Letter to Governor Newsom and the Legislature on Voting Equipment Security
Full Report
Executive Summary
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2019
For Additional Information Contact:
Tamar Foster, Project Manager
(916) 445-2125
Commission Urges State to Proactively Strengthen the Security of California's Voting Equipment
The Little Hoover Commission sent a letter to the Governor and Legislature, available here, on Monday, March 4, 2019, calling upon lawmakers to fortify the state’s approach to voting equipment security.
During the course of its study, the Commission learned of many actions California takes to secure its elections, including implementing rigorous certification standards, requiring a paper trail for every vote cast, and recently establishing an Office of Cybersecurity to keep up with evolving security threats.
The Commission found, however, there are bigger, more aggressive steps the state could take in securing its voting equipment. “In this era when foreign interference, human error, and machine malfunctions dominate headlines, it’s more important than ever to remember the adage that security is a process, not a product,” said Little Hoover Commission Chairman Pedro Nava. “Though the state takes a number of important security measures, it must be more ambitious in making sure every Californian’s vote counts.”
The Commission identified the following key issues that policymakers must consider when securing the state’s voting equipment:
- California must ensure every county’s voting equipment is as secure as possible, but the Commission found old and outdated voting equipment threatens election integrity.
- California must prove to voters that the election results are legitimate, but more work is needed to better implement safeguards to catch and correct intentional or accidental discrepancies between how Californians voted and reported winners.
- California’s “bottom-up” election system is valued for its ability to adapt to local needs, but the state lacks statewide goals for election system innovation.
The Little Hoover Commission is an independent state agency charged with recommending ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of state programs. The Commission’s recommendations are submitted to the Governor and the Legislature for their consideration and action. The letter report is available at www.lhc.ca.gov.
Fact Sheet
Study Description
The Little Hoover Commission’s review of voting equipment security began during the course of its October 2018 voter participation study, Letter to Governor Brown and Legislature on Voter Participation in New Motor Voter Program. The Commission determined it wanted to learn more about how the state ensures that all Californians’ votes count, particularly relevant in light of Department of Homeland Security reports that foreign operatives in 2016 had scanned the state’s data networks.
The Commission studied the strengths and vulnerabilities of the current election systems and their procurement; the policies, processes and procedures around their use; and plans to use available funding to update this equipment. Additionally, the Commission heard from security and elections experts in a July 2018 hearing about the implementation of best practices in California and opportunities to further improve voting equipment security.
Agenda
Overview
In this report, the Little Hoover Commission calls on lawmakers and policymakers to consider expanding approaches to voting equipment security so all California voters can be sure the reported outcome actually represents their votes.
During the course of its study, the Commission found the state takes many actions to secure its elections, such as implementing rigorous certification standards, requiring a paper trail for every vote cast, and recently establishing an Office of Cybersecurity to keep up with evolving security threats.
However, the Commission found areas in need of improvement, including old and outdated voting equipment, post-election auditing methods based on outdated methodology, and a lack of statewide goals for election system innovation.
More inquiry is needed to address the ongoing and persistent challenges to California’s voting equipment security. To facilitate this, the Commission identified key issues policymakers should consider in weighing options to ensure that every jurisdiction within the state accurately and efficiently records and reports votes.

-
February 282019Business Meeting9:30 a.m., BMG Conference Room, 925 L Street, Sacramento, CABusiness MeetingAgenda
AGENDA
Business Meeting
Thursday, February 28, 2019
925 L Street
BMG Conference Room
Sacramento, CAI. Business Meeting Minutes from October 25, 2018, November 15, 2018, January 24, 2019, and February 6, 2019
II. Draft Report on Voting Equipment Security for Review and Possible Adoption
III. Subcommittee Reports
IV. Project Selection
V. Implementation and Impact Activity
VI. Reports from the California State Auditor’s Office
VIII. Briefing on two recent reports about the 1991 Realignment (10:30 a.m.)
Senate Bill 90: 1991 Realignment Report (January 2019)
Adam Dorsey, Program Budget Manager, Department of Finance
Teresa Calvert, Assistant Program Budget Manager, Department of Finance
Jay Kapoor, Assistant Program Budget Manager, Department of FinanceRethinking the 1991 Realignment (October 2018)
Lourdes Morales, Principal Fiscal & Policy Analyst, Legislative Analyst’s OfficePublic NoticePUBLIC NOTICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2019For Additional Information Contact:
Tamar Foster, Project Manager
(916) 445-2125Notice of Meeting
On Thursday, February 28, 2019, the Little Hoover Commission will hold a business meeting beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the BMG Conference Room located on the lower level of 925 L Street in Sacramento.
At its business meeting, the Commission will review and possibly adopt a draft letter report on voting equipment security. The Commission also will consider items for future study and conduct other business as detailed on the agenda. Finally, the Commission will receive a briefing on two recent reports about the 1991 realignment from the Department of Finance and Legislative Analyst’s Office. Members of the public will have an opportunity to make comments about Commission agenda items during the business meeting.
If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact the Little Hoover Commission at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, February 21, 2019.
-
January 242019Business Meeting9:30 a.m., Room 175, 925 L Street, Sacramento, CABusiness MeetingAgenda
AGENDA
Business Meeting
Thursday, January 24, 2019
925 L Street, Room 175
Sacramento, CAI. Business Meeting Minutes from October 25, 2018 and November 15, 2018
II. Draft Biennial Report for Review and Possible Adoption
III. Draft Report on Voting Equipment Security for Review and Consideration
IV. Subcommittee Reports
V. Project Selection
VI. Implementation and Impact Activity
VII. Reports from the California State Auditor’s Office
VIII. Closed Session:
PERSONNEL
The Commission will meet in closed session to discuss personnel matters consistent with Government Code section 11126, subdivision (a)(1).
Public NoticePUBLIC NOTICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2018For Additional Information Contact:
Tamar Foster, Project Manager
(916) 445-2125Revised Notice of Meeting (Agenda Updated)
On Thursday, January 24, 2019, the Little Hoover Commission will hold a business meeting beginning at 9:30 a.m. in Conference Room 175 located on the first floor of 925 L Street in Sacramento.
At its business meeting, the Commission will review and possibly adopt its biennial report to the Governor and Legislature and discuss a draft letter report on voting equipment security. The Commission also will consider items for future study and conduct other business as detailed on the agenda. Members of the public will have an opportunity to make comments about Commission agenda items during the business meeting.
Following this discussion, the Commission will meet in closed session to discuss personnel matters consistent with Government Code section 11126, subdivision (a)(1). The Commission will then reconvene in open session and publically announce any actions taken in closed session consistent with Government Code section 11126.3, subdivision(f).
If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact the Little Hoover Commission at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, January 17, 2019.
-
July 262018Voting Equipment Security9:30 a.m., State Capitol, Room 437, Sacramento, CAPublic HearingAgenda
AGENDA
Public Hearing on Voting Equipment Security
An Introduction to Voting Equipment Security: How do Voters Know Their Vote Counts?
Thursday, July 26, 2018
State Capitol, Room 437
Sacramento, CA 95814- Pamela Smith, Senior Advisor, Verified Voting (Written Testimony)
- Noel Runyan, Owner, Personal Data Systems (Written Testimony, Attachment).
- Philip Stark, Associate Dean, Mathematical and Physical Sciences and Professor, Department of Statistics, University of California, Berkeley (Written Testimony)
- E. John Sebes, Chief Technology Officer, Open Source Election Technology (OSET) Institute (Written Testimony)
- Kammi Foote, Clerk-Recorder, County of Inyo (Written Testimony)
- Kenneth Bennett, Program Manager, Voting Solutions for All People (VSAP), Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (Written Testimony)
- Susan Lapsley, Deputy Secretary of State, HAVA Director and Counsel, California Secretary of State (Written Testimony)
Brent Turner (Written Testimony)
Public NoticePUBLIC NOTICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2018For Additional Information Contact:
Jeanne R. Wolfe, Executive Director (A)
(916) 445-2125Notice of Meeting
On Thursday, July 26, 2018, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing to examine voting equipment security in California. The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. in Room 437 of the State Capitol in Sacramento.
Immediately following the hearing, the Commission will hold a business meeting in the lower level conference room at 925 L Street in Sacramento. Members of the public will have the opportunity to comment on any item on the Commission’s business meeting agenda.
Meetings of the Little Hoover Commission are open to the public except when specifically noticed otherwise in accordance with the Open Meeting Act. The Commission may take action on any item listed on the agenda, unless listed as informational only. Times are approximate and subject to change. Agenda items may be taken out of order to accommodate speakers and to maintain a quorum. The meeting may be cancelled without notice. Written comments on the agenda items should be submitted to the Commission no later than 12:00 p.m. the day before the meeting. Email comment letters to krystal.beckham@lhc.ca.gov. For questions regarding this meeting, please call (916) 653-1028.
The Commission endeavors to broadcast its hearings live, but this is dependent on the availability of Assembly TV the day of the hearing. Live broadcasts can be viewed on The California Channel at http://www.calchannel.com/live-webcast/. The hearing will be video-recorded and will be made available on The California Channel’s archives at the following link within two business days: http://www.calchannel.com/video-on-demand/.
If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Commission Acting Executive Director Jeanne R. Wolfe at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, July 19, 2018.Video - Pamela Smith, Senior Advisor, Verified Voting (Written Testimony)

-
February 282019Business Meeting9:30 a.m., BMG Conference Room, 925 L Street, Sacramento, CABusiness MeetingAgenda
AGENDA
Business Meeting
Thursday, February 28, 2019
925 L Street
BMG Conference Room
Sacramento, CAI. Business Meeting Minutes from October 25, 2018, November 15, 2018, January 24, 2019, and February 6, 2019
II. Draft Report on Voting Equipment Security for Review and Possible Adoption
III. Subcommittee Reports
IV. Project Selection
V. Implementation and Impact Activity
VI. Reports from the California State Auditor’s Office
VIII. Briefing on two recent reports about the 1991 Realignment (10:30 a.m.)
Senate Bill 90: 1991 Realignment Report (January 2019)
Adam Dorsey, Program Budget Manager, Department of Finance
Teresa Calvert, Assistant Program Budget Manager, Department of Finance
Jay Kapoor, Assistant Program Budget Manager, Department of FinanceRethinking the 1991 Realignment (October 2018)
Lourdes Morales, Principal Fiscal & Policy Analyst, Legislative Analyst’s OfficePublic NoticePUBLIC NOTICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2019For Additional Information Contact:
Tamar Foster, Project Manager
(916) 445-2125Notice of Meeting
On Thursday, February 28, 2019, the Little Hoover Commission will hold a business meeting beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the BMG Conference Room located on the lower level of 925 L Street in Sacramento.
At its business meeting, the Commission will review and possibly adopt a draft letter report on voting equipment security. The Commission also will consider items for future study and conduct other business as detailed on the agenda. Finally, the Commission will receive a briefing on two recent reports about the 1991 realignment from the Department of Finance and Legislative Analyst’s Office. Members of the public will have an opportunity to make comments about Commission agenda items during the business meeting.
If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact the Little Hoover Commission at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, February 21, 2019.
-
January 242019Business Meeting9:30 a.m., Room 175, 925 L Street, Sacramento, CABusiness MeetingAgenda
AGENDA
Business Meeting
Thursday, January 24, 2019
925 L Street, Room 175
Sacramento, CAI. Business Meeting Minutes from October 25, 2018 and November 15, 2018
II. Draft Biennial Report for Review and Possible Adoption
III. Draft Report on Voting Equipment Security for Review and Consideration
IV. Subcommittee Reports
V. Project Selection
VI. Implementation and Impact Activity
VII. Reports from the California State Auditor’s Office
VIII. Closed Session:
PERSONNEL
The Commission will meet in closed session to discuss personnel matters consistent with Government Code section 11126, subdivision (a)(1).
Public NoticePUBLIC NOTICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2018For Additional Information Contact:
Tamar Foster, Project Manager
(916) 445-2125Revised Notice of Meeting (Agenda Updated)
On Thursday, January 24, 2019, the Little Hoover Commission will hold a business meeting beginning at 9:30 a.m. in Conference Room 175 located on the first floor of 925 L Street in Sacramento.
At its business meeting, the Commission will review and possibly adopt its biennial report to the Governor and Legislature and discuss a draft letter report on voting equipment security. The Commission also will consider items for future study and conduct other business as detailed on the agenda. Members of the public will have an opportunity to make comments about Commission agenda items during the business meeting.
Following this discussion, the Commission will meet in closed session to discuss personnel matters consistent with Government Code section 11126, subdivision (a)(1). The Commission will then reconvene in open session and publically announce any actions taken in closed session consistent with Government Code section 11126.3, subdivision(f).
If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact the Little Hoover Commission at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, January 17, 2019.
-
July 262018Voting Equipment Security9:30 a.m., State Capitol, Room 437, Sacramento, CAPublic HearingAgenda
AGENDA
Public Hearing on Voting Equipment Security
An Introduction to Voting Equipment Security: How do Voters Know Their Vote Counts?
Thursday, July 26, 2018
State Capitol, Room 437
Sacramento, CA 95814- Pamela Smith, Senior Advisor, Verified Voting (Written Testimony)
- Noel Runyan, Owner, Personal Data Systems (Written Testimony, Attachment).
- Philip Stark, Associate Dean, Mathematical and Physical Sciences and Professor, Department of Statistics, University of California, Berkeley (Written Testimony)
- E. John Sebes, Chief Technology Officer, Open Source Election Technology (OSET) Institute (Written Testimony)
- Kammi Foote, Clerk-Recorder, County of Inyo (Written Testimony)
- Kenneth Bennett, Program Manager, Voting Solutions for All People (VSAP), Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (Written Testimony)
- Susan Lapsley, Deputy Secretary of State, HAVA Director and Counsel, California Secretary of State (Written Testimony)
Brent Turner (Written Testimony)
Public NoticePUBLIC NOTICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2018For Additional Information Contact:
Jeanne R. Wolfe, Executive Director (A)
(916) 445-2125Notice of Meeting
On Thursday, July 26, 2018, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing to examine voting equipment security in California. The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. in Room 437 of the State Capitol in Sacramento.
Immediately following the hearing, the Commission will hold a business meeting in the lower level conference room at 925 L Street in Sacramento. Members of the public will have the opportunity to comment on any item on the Commission’s business meeting agenda.
Meetings of the Little Hoover Commission are open to the public except when specifically noticed otherwise in accordance with the Open Meeting Act. The Commission may take action on any item listed on the agenda, unless listed as informational only. Times are approximate and subject to change. Agenda items may be taken out of order to accommodate speakers and to maintain a quorum. The meeting may be cancelled without notice. Written comments on the agenda items should be submitted to the Commission no later than 12:00 p.m. the day before the meeting. Email comment letters to krystal.beckham@lhc.ca.gov. For questions regarding this meeting, please call (916) 653-1028.
The Commission endeavors to broadcast its hearings live, but this is dependent on the availability of Assembly TV the day of the hearing. Live broadcasts can be viewed on The California Channel at http://www.calchannel.com/live-webcast/. The hearing will be video-recorded and will be made available on The California Channel’s archives at the following link within two business days: http://www.calchannel.com/video-on-demand/.
If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Commission Acting Executive Director Jeanne R. Wolfe at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, July 19, 2018.Video - Pamela Smith, Senior Advisor, Verified Voting (Written Testimony)