Official: Idaho needs a cybersecurity expert for elections

Idaho’s top election official says the state needs a cybersecurity expert to deal with potential threats to elections and make sure voters have confidence in the system.

Secretary of State Lawerence Denney told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Friday in a budget request that his agency critically needs the full-time worker to examine potential threats and keep the office up to speed.

Denney says his office is often contacted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other agencies about possible cyberattacks on voting systems.

He says his agency also needs a full-time communications coordinator to keep the office keep in contact with more than two dozen entities in case of an emergency.

Lawmakers will decide on the budget for Denney’s agency in the coming weeks.