An Algorithmic Failure Beneath the Secret Ballot
2 days ago
- The secret ballot is a cornerstone of democracy, but a vulnerability in Dominion ballot scanners allows reversing the randomization that anonymizes ballots.
- AI coding agents, used by non-experts, can reconstruct the order of 98.9% of in-person ballots in Georgia’s 2026 primary using public records.
- Combining the ballot order with voter check-in logs or even simple observation can link specific voters to their ballots, breaking ballot secrecy.
- The exploit was disclosed in 2022, but many states have not installed the software patch (version 5.17), and AI tools have made exploitation much easier.
- Urgent patching and a reconsideration of vulnerability disclosure practices are needed to protect voter privacy.