Bill aims to block foreign ownership of election systems

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Updated 1:51 pm CDT, Thursday, July 19, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — Days after Maryland officials announced that an election service vendor was acquired by a company linked to a Russian oligarch, two congressmen are introducing legislation requiring that election systems vendors are owned and controlled by domestic companies.

Rep. John Delaney, a Democrat, and Rep. Andy Harris, a Republican, are set to introduce the legislation Thursday.

The Protecting Election Systems from Foreign Control Act would also require the Department of Homeland Security and the Election Assistance Commission to provide guidance and technical assistance to state and local election agencies. It would establish a database so agencies can verify whether a vendor is not foreign controlled and create an annual review process to examine changes in ownership or control.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Bill-aims-to-block-foreign-ownership-of-election-13088996.php

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(Short article, no more at link.)

From John Delaney's website:

Delaney, Harris to File Bipartisan Legislation to Block Foreign Ownership and Control of U.S. Election Systems
Jul 16, 2018 Press Release

WASHINGTON – Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) and Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-1) will introduce legislation, the Protecting Election Systems from Foreign Control Act, to require that election systems vendors are owned and controlled by domestic companies for federal elections. Last week, the FBI informed Maryland officials that ByteGrid LLC, a firm used by the State of Maryland has ties to Russian oligarch Vladimir Potanin, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“It’s alarming that so much of our elections systems could be controlled by foreign-owned entities. This legislation will prevent this from happening again,” said Congressman Delaney. “Our election systems are targets of attacks, and we must take steps to harden and protect our democratic institutions. The integrity and security of our elections transcends partisanship and I thank Congressman Harris for working with me on this important legislation.”

“Our nation’s free and fair elections are the foundation of our democracy. Congress must act to protect our future elections from the possibility of interference by hostile nations or foreign entities trying to undermine our democratic institutions,” said Congressman Harris.

In addition to requiring that elections systems vendors are owned and controlled by domestic companies, the Protecting Election Systems from Foreign Control Act will also require the Department of Homeland Security and the Election Assistance Commission to provide guidance and technical assistance to state and local election agencies, establish a database so agencies can verify that an election vendor is not foreign controlled and to create an annual review process to examine changes in vendor ownership or control.

More:
https://delaney.house.gov/news/press-releases/delaney-harris-to-file-bipartisan-legislation-to-block-foreign-ownership-and

[erronis]

1. Simple enough to set up a new shell company with All-American actors. TRUSTUSELECSYS

Board of Directors: no problem rounding up some shills for those fantastic all expense paid vacations with attractive hosts/esses.

CEO, CFO, COO, etc.: Dime a dozen - (well, multi-millions because we only want the "best" talent.)

Banks: They're already bought and paid for. Know any willing officers?

Then the last item - actual operating money.

Talk to the fixers. They can move money between many countries and off-shores with nary a trace. Given the hard work of the Special Counsel digging into the dump's/cohort's finances, the fixers are learning some new tricks.

[elleng]

2. Good for Delaney.

Surprised harris (r) joined him!

[bucolic_frolic]

3. I don't expect much change before election day

because Republicans know there is election interference, social media influence, psyops mind warping, and it benefits them and they want another Supreme Court Justice beyond the current nominee, so they'll just give it lip service.

But this is a start. Something bipartisan on elections. Andy Harris must be out of the loop.

[ancianita]

4. Agreed. Sounds like the appearance of fixing without fixing, the old, "I'm fixin' to..."

[docgee]

5. Umm... How about election systems being owned by the state?

I don't trust private companies inside or outside the U.S.