Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has raised concerns about possible interference and disinformation following the emergence of a viral video alleging voter fraud. U.S. intelligence officials have confirmed that the video was created by 'Russian influence actors.'
Raffensperger expressed his apprehension, stating, 'We got enough that splits us. We don’t need to have the Russians or other bad actors try and split us further.' He emphasized the need to remain vigilant against external attempts to sow discord.
Highlighting the preparedness of his office, Raffensperger acknowledged the challenges posed by sophisticated adversaries. He noted, 'We prepared for it. But you can never prepare enough, because it seems like they never sleep. They got very clever minds, and they have their various devious people just trying to upset us.'
Referring to a possible motive behind such interference, Raffensperger suggested a link to geopolitical tensions, stating, 'They probably don’t like us supporting Ukraine, and they just want to take a shot at us. And we can’t let them do that.'
Notably, Raffensperger's office recently thwarted a cyberattack believed to have originated from a foreign country targeting the website used by voters to request absentee ballots. Despite the attempted breach, there was no disruption to voters' ability to access the platform and request their ballots.
The Secretary of State's remarks underscore the ongoing challenges posed by foreign actors seeking to undermine the integrity of the electoral process. As the state remains on high alert for potential threats, efforts to safeguard against interference and disinformation continue to be a top priority.
