Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Manager
Subject: Board of Supervisors' Response to the 2018-2019 Civil Grand Jury
Report, "Security of Elections Announcements"
RECOMMENDATION:
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Approve the Board of Supervisors' response to the 2018-2019 Civil Grand Jury Report, "Security of Elections Announcements."
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BACKGROUND:
On July 24, 2019, the 2018-2019 San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury issued a report titled "Security of Elections Announcements." The Board of Supervisors is required to submit comments on the findings and recommendations pertaining to the matters over which it has some decision-making authority within 90 days. The Board's response to the report is due to the Honorable Donald J. Ayoob no later than October 22, 2019.
DISCUSSION:
The Grand Jury made 17 findings and 14 recommendations in its report. The Board responses follow each finding and recommendation that the Grand Jury requested that the Board respond to within 90 days.
FINDINGS
Vulnerability of Public Trust in Election Communications
Finding 1:
The veracity of the County's election broadcasts on any ACRE or CMO online communication platform is important to the public's trust in the electoral process.
Response
Agree
Finding 2:
Unlike DHS, ACRE does not include the security of online election communications when describing election security on its website.
Response:
ACRE submitted a response to this Finding directly to the Civil Grand Jury.
Finding 3:
Protecting online communication platforms with multi-factor authentication that is susceptible to SIM hijacking, phishing, and man-in-the-middle attacks-as is the case with the use of one-time PINs (OTPs) sent to cell phones-exposes the County to election disinformation attacks.
Response:
Partially agree. SIM hijacking is a complex form of mobile phone fraudi. ISD recommends that only County-...
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