A Democratic candidate for Congress urged Secretary of State Brian Kemp to release details of an alleged breach of confidential data that could affect millions of Georgia voter records.
Democrat Jon Ossoff pressed Kemp’s office to disclose the nature and suspected origin of the attack, the type and quantity of data that may have been disclosed and an assessment of whether the breach could impact the April 18 special election to replace former Rep. Tom Price.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation launched an inquiry into the suspected cyberattack on Friday at the request of state officials after they received notice that records kept by the Center for Election Systems at Kennesaw State University may have been compromised.
Kemp has said little about the breach since the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the FBI's involvement on Friday, aside from a brief statement expressing confidence the FBI would track down the perpetrator.
Ossoff, one of 18 candidates in the race for the 6th District, said he's aware the investigation is ongoing and involves sensitive data. But he said he's hopeful Kemp can release more details about how the state can "harden its electoral infrastructure" ahead of the wide-open race.
The district, which stretches from east Cobb to north DeKalb, has been in GOP hands for decades. But Democrats hope a base energized by Donald Trump’s election can help flip the seat.
The Democratic Party of Georgia, meanwhile, said its attorneys and voter protection team began to immediately coordinate with analysts from the national party after the AJC's story broke on Friday.
“We’re all monitoring this investigation very closely,” said Pinney Allen, the state party’s voter protection committee chair, “paying particular attention to any ramifications this breach may have on the upcoming special election.”
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