Boston City Councillor Josh Zakim took his electoral opponent Secretary of State William Galvin to task today over what he sees as weaknesses in the state’s election security.
Zakim, who represents Back Bay, Beacon Hill, the West End, Mission Hill, and Fenway, announced he would challenge longtime incumbent Galvin for his seat back in November.
Speaking in front of the State House, Zakim criticized Galvin for not using a federal fund meant to improve voting systems so they don’t get hacked.
“Massachusetts ranks dead last in using what is essentially free, federal money just to upgrade these systems. And just to say, because we don’t think we were hacked in 2016, is to say, there’s no way that we can be sure that we won’t be hacked in 2018, or 2020, or beyond.”
Massachusetts’ voting system was not compromised by Russian hackers in the 2016 election, something Secretary Galvin credits to the state’s use of paper ballots.
Still, the secretary has said he’s concerned about the upcoming midterms, and will be working to improve cyber-security.
Zakim and Galvin will both be on the Democratic primary ballot for the Secretary of State seat on September 4 — the day after Labor Day.
