UAA On to Second Phase of Alaska Elections Security Project

(February 4, 2008, Anchorage, Alaska) – Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell announced today that the University of Alaska Anchorage moved to Phase 2 of the Alaska Elections Security Project. Lieutenant Governor Parnell and the Alaska Division of Elections commissioned the University to study the security and accuracy of the state’s current voting systems and procedures.

Phase 1 of UAA’s Alaska Election Security Project revealed many positive aspects of Alaska’s Division of Elections procedures. The study found that the Division of Elections systems and procedures were “…in many ways reassuring: Alaska’s system has many features that improve security. Those include paper back-ups for electronic counts, cross-checking of vote counts in different locations, and a centralized system for state and federal elections throughout Alaska.”

In Phase 2 of the project, the University will delve into hardware, software, and procedures, then offer recommended improvements to combat any potential vulnerabilities in Alaska’s Elections system, including the transportation of ballots and vote recording machines to the Bush.

“I look forward to the University’s suggested changes to enhance Alaska’s Elections security,” Lieutenant Governor Parnell said on Monday. “Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai and I believe that democracy is powered by accurate and secure elections, and we are committed to ensuring that the vote of every Alaskan counts.”

To read the Phase 1 full report and the Executive Summary, please click here.

To offer feedback on the report or suggestions to the University review team, please click here.