Interfax: Voting system invulnerable, but will require Russian-made software in future – Churov

MOSCOW. June 17 (Interfax) – The head of the Russian Election Commission, Vladimir Churov, has confirmed the invulnerability of the state automated voting system “Vybory” (Elections) but added that in future the system will require Russian, not foreign, software to counter potential threats to it from abroad.

“Currently our system (“Vybory”) is invulnerable, but we cannot do the next cycle of renewing software that will have to be installed in five years’ time, under the same scheme, there are risks, so different, domestically-made, software is needed,” Churov told Interfax on Tuesday.

Risks will arise if the system continues using foreign software, the chief election official said. “If we continue updating under the old scheme, if we will still be using foreign software, then risks will arise,” he said.

He said he is expecting specific technical proposals before the single voting day, September 14.