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Grimes: No Evidence of Cyberattacks Against Kentucky’s Election Systems

www.sos.ky.gov

Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes says there is no evidence of a cyberattack against Kentucky’s election systems. Department of Homeland Security officials told Senators on Wednesday that 21 states were targets of Russian hacking attempts in the 2016 election.

Department of Homeland Security cyber division acting director Sam Liles told the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee that internet-connected election related networks were potentially targeted by Russian government cyber actors. He said, however, that none of those attacks involved vote tallying.

Officials in the testimony would not specify which states were targets, but acting deputy undersecretary Jeanette Manfra said the states affected are aware.

Grimes says Kentucky’s voting equipment is not connected to the internet. She says there is no information from the DHS or other intelligence agencies that indicate Kentucky was a target of hackers. And says her office is working closely with the DHS, FBI and state Election Integrity Task Force to monitor and enhance security practices.

Grimes has also criticized President Donald Trump's executive order creating the Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, calling it a threat to voting rights.

Matt Markgraf joined the WKMS team as a student in January 2007. He's served in a variety of roles over the years: as News Director March 2016-September 2019 and previously as the New Media & Promotions Coordinator beginning in 2011. Prior to that, he was a graduate and undergraduate assistant. He is currently the host of the international music show Imported on Sunday nights at 10 p.m.
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