Maryland officials are asking the Department of Homeland Security to help secure the state’s election system after learning a vendor that provides key services was bought by a company with links to a Russian oligarch.
State House Speaker Michael Busch said the FBI had found no criminal activity. But Gov. Larry Hogan said even the appearance of the potential for “bad actors” to influence the state’s election infrastructure could undermine public trust.
An investor in the vendor, ByteGrid LLC, has “close ties” to Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Busch.
The firm hosts the statewide voter registration, candidacy and election management system; the online voter registration system; online ballot delivery system; and unofficial election night results website.
State Senate President Mike Miller said the Russian involvement was “shocking news… that goes to the heart of our democracy. This is the evil empire, and they are at our door when they invest in our election process.”
The revelation comes after numerous U.S. authorities have concluded Moscow tried to interfere in the 2016 presidential election.