LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In-person excused absentee voting is underway in Jefferson County, but it wasn't long ago when the clerk's office was hit with a Russian ransomware attack.
Voters who won't be in town on Election Day like Louisville resident Debra Washington are getting their ballot in early.
"This vote is so important," Washington said. "And I hope everyone... will get out and vote early. Don't wait until Nov. 5. Vote early, please this is important."
The Jefferson County Clerk's Office oversees the process. They have more than 631,000 registered voters.
"Well I wanted to vote and it was nice to have the opportunity to vote early since we won't be here on Election Day," said Suzanne Andriot, a Jefferson County voter. "The process was very easy."
Three months ago the clerk's branches closed due to a ransomware attack traced back to individuals in Russia.
It locked employees out of their computers and showed a message demanding money to regain access. Communications director for the clerk's office, Ashley Tinius, said they never contacted the hackers.
"We have monitored all of the dark web for any type of indication that the information they say they stole from us has been published somewhere," Tinius said. "And we have found absolutely nothing."
Tinius worked closely with county clerk Bobbie Holsclaw. They said the voting system was not touched in the attack.
"Bobbie has seen this office through many many elections," Tinius said. "And she is devoted to the voters in making sure we do everything that we can to make the election safe. It's just great to know that this was one of those things where things could have been worse, and thank goodness they weren't."
Tinius said they do not use digital voting machines and voters cast their physical ballots into a machine that's not connected to the internet or any networks. It brings an extra step of security to the voting process.
Voters casting their early ballots said they have trust in the election security.
"They recovered so well from that," Washington said. "This hacking and invasion of privacy, it can happen anywhere and to whomever. It's terrible but it's become the new norm."
The clerk's office said new legislation also requires every county in the state to take a day to audit their equipment after the election.
"After the elections our machines are locked down at our election warehouse," Tinius said. "A secure facility and nothing is done with them. So from the day of the election to 30 days afterwards they are sitting there under lock and key under 24 hour surveillance."
The clerk's downtown branch will closed for two days next week so employees can help at early voting locations.
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