New Bedford Election Commissioner Manny DeBrito joins Barry Richard to discuss the recent revelations of the Russia indictments, and how Russian election tampering will affect future elections.

DeBrito discusses how other states are making the move to paper ballots, like the ones Massachusetts uses. Some states, in the effort to keep up with modern technology, have gone to touch-screen voting computers, which can potentially be hacked. The paper ballots give states a physical backup in case there are any questions regarding ballots.

Following Special Counsel Robert Mueller's indictment of 13 Russian nationals for interfering with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, states such as Georgia have said they are moving back to paper ballots because all signs seem to point to Russia once again interfering with the 2018 midterm elections. DeBrito discusses some of the mechanisms in place in Massachusetts that would hopefully prevent such hacking from taking place at our polls.

However, there are some technologies that are available to assist in early voting, and with voter check-in, such as "poll pads." DeBrito talks about ways to protect against voter fraud, where people come in attempting to use another person's identity in order to cast a ballot.

DeBrito also talks about how election commissioners protect the integrity of election results, especially with Massachusetts currently looking into same-day voter registration. He says the biggest issue with that is ensuring no voter fraud takes place in that regard.

Barry also brings up the issue of a "voter ID," and DeBrito said that while Massachusetts doesn't require a voter to show identification to vote, there are procedures in place that call for random checks of voters' identification.

 

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