‘Classified’: Officials say they’re guarding your vote—but won’t explain how

The message Friday from a bevy of state and federal officials on efforts to increase election security: Trust us.

“We are committed to the maximum amount of transparency that is possible,” Secretary of State Laurel Lee said.

“However, it is important to remember that specific information about defensive measures or cyber threat indicators cannot be shared publicly as that would weaken our security posture,” she added. “That is the kind of information that our adversaries could in fact use to attack our infrastructure.”

Lee appeared at a press conference with Northern Florida U.S. Attorney Lawrence Keefe and FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen, as well as FBI agents and county supervisors of elections.

Lee, the state’s chief elections officer, told reporters she is following Gov. Ron DeSantis‘ mandate to batten the virtual hatches in time for the 2020 election.

Two attempts to breach Florida elections systems were noted as part of an indictment issued by Special Counsel Robert Mueller against 12 Russian intelligence officers for hacking Democrats in 2016. The counties affected still have not been identified.

When asked whether she would release information on election security breaches in the future, Lee said such information would be shared among state and federal law enforcement and other election-related officials.

But what about the voting public?

“Well, we’ll have to make those determinations on a case by case basis depending upon the nature of the breach, the actor, and the information that is involved,” she said.

But, it was pointed out, governments and private companies routinely disclose data breaches, such as the disclosure of people’s personal information, including financial details. Why not for elections?

Because that might include matters “deemed classified by any of our federal authorities,” she said.

This June, DeSantis said he is “redistributing” $2.3 million from the federal government to counties to boost election systems security. The money is what’s left over from a $19 million federal election security grant provided to Florida for the 2018 cycle. It wasn’t all spent in time for that election.

County elections supervisors were supposed to be able to use the money for such things as software security upgrades and improving the safety of buildings in which election equipment is stored or used.

Also at the event was Rachel Rojas, special agent in charge of the Jacksonville FBI field office. She said America faces “a very real threat from adversaries who are attempting to undermine our elections and influence our political processes.” Rojas didn’t name specific groups or countries.

“They secretly fund ways to influence public opinion and policymakers,” she said. “For example, they pretend to be citizens and purchase political advertisements either for or against a person or cause. They also develop and push disinformation campaigns on social media to spread false and inconsistent information about an important issue.”

She mentioned the FBI’s Protected Voices initiative, which “provides tools and resources to political campaigns, companies, and individuals to protect against online foreign influence operations and cybersecurity threats,” according to its website.

“Make no mistake, this is meant to confuse and upset you, and turn Americans against each other. They conduct cyber attacks targeting our election infrastructure as well as political parties, campaigns and public officials, and attempt to access and leak sensitive information.

“We know our adversaries are relentless,” Rojas added. “Their attempts to interfere with our elections is not a new problem and we expect their efforts to continue in 2020.”

An archived video of the press conference can be viewed on The Florida Channel website.