Microsoft's offers software tools to secure elections

Microsoft is announcing an ambitious effort intended to make U.S. voting more secure and verifiable. The company will offer free open-source software that several top U.S. elections vendors say they will explore incorporating into their voting equipment. The software kit is being developed with...

Microsoft is announcing an ambitious effort intended to make U.S. voting more secure and verifiable.

The company will offer free open-source software that several top U.S. elections vendors say they will explore incorporating into their voting equipment.

The software kit is being developed with Oregon-based Galois, which is separately creating a secure voting system prototype under contract with the Pentagon's advanced research agency, DARPA.

The Microsoft kit is dubbed "ElectionGuard." It was announced Monday by CEO Satya Nadella at a Seattle developer's conference.

Microsoft says the kit it will be available beginning this summer with prototypes ready to pilot for next year's general elections.

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