Voter registration website (Illinois State Board of Elections)
| Multi Request | Voter registration website |
| Submitted | Oct. 13, 2020 |
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Communications
From: Jason Koebler
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act., I hereby request the following records:
A series of voter registration website outages have made national news in recent weeks:
https://www.vice.com/en/article/935em3/severed-internet-cable-breaks-virginia-voter-registration-portal-on-deadline-day
https://www.npr.org/2020/10/06/920774701/florida-governor-extends-deadline-after-voter-registration-site-crashes
Therefore, I request the following information:
- Contracts, plans, RFPs, and underlying information about the design of online voter registration systems
- Presentations and emails regarding these systems
- Any disaster recovery / backup plans / failsafes for voter registration databases and registration websites or emails/plans/RFPs/presentations regarding this
- Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity contracts, plans, RFPs, presentations for voter registration websites and databases
- Any cybersecurity audits/penetration test reports / RFPs and contracts regarding online voter registration systems
Please search from Jan 1, 2018 until the day this request is processed.
These documents will be used for reporting on Motherboard, VICE Media's science and tech website (www.motherboard.vice.com)
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Jason Koebler
From: Illinois State Board of Elections
I have received the attached FOIA request and will send a response within five business days. Due to the proximity of the upcoming election and attendant increased workload on our IT staff during this time, I may need to request an extension for this request as allowed under 5 ILCS 140/3(f). If that is the case, I will notify you within five business days.
Matt Dietrich
Public Information Officer
Illinois State Board of Elections
(217) 558-1955
From: Illinois State Board of Elections
The Office of Information Technology received your request for the following data via fax on October 15th, 2020:
* Contracts, plans, RFPS, and underlying information about the design of online voter registration systems:
* Presentations and emails regarding these systems
* Any disaster recovery / backup plans / failsafes for voter registration databases and registration websites or emails/plans/RFPs/presentations regarding this
* Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity contracts, plans, RFPs, presentations for voter registration websites and databases
* Any cybersecurity audits/penetration test reports / RFPS and contracts regarding online voter registration systems
With the exception of information that has already been reviewed and made publicly available, we are denying this request as the disclosure of the documentation and communications surrounding the related information could be used to provide critical guidance to actors or agencies that would seek to compromise our information systems. Pursuant to Illinois Code ILCS 140/7(1)(o) this information is exempt from release under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.:
* Administrative or technical information associated with automated data processing operations, including but not limited to software, operating protocols, computer program abstracts, file layouts, source listings, object modules, load modules, user guides, documentation pertaining to all logical and physical design of computerized systems, employee manuals, and any other information that, if disclosed, would jeopardize the security of the system or its data or the security of materials exempt under this Section.
Please be advised that you have a right to have the denial of your request reviewed by the Public Access Counselor (PAC) at the Office of the Illinois Attorney General. 5 ILCS 140/9.5(a). You may file your Request for Review with the PAC by writing to:
Public Access Counselor
Office of the Attorney General
500 South 2nd Street
Springfield, Illinois 62706
Fax: 217-782-1396
E-mail: publicaccess@atg.state.il.us<mailto:publicaccess@atg.state.il.us>
You also have the right to seek judicial review of your denial by filing a lawsuit in the State circuit court. 5 ILCS 140/11.
If you choose to file a Request for Review with the PAC, you must do so within 60 calendar days of the date of this denial letter. 5 ILCS 140/9.5(a). Please note that you must include a copy of your original FOIA request and this denial letter when filing a Request for Review with the PAC.
Matt Dietrich
Public Information Officer
Illinois State Board of Elections
(217)558-1955
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