Election integrity experts and officials have dismissed theories alleging Starlink's involvement in election rigging as baseless.
Claims that President-elect Donald Trump manipulated the 2024 election using Starlink have been debunked by multiple sources according to ABC News.
In the wake of the 2024 election, numerous allegations surfaced on social media suggesting that the internet service Starlink, provided by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, was used to rig the voting in favor of Donald Trump. These claims have since been countered by a chorus of election officials and cybersecurity experts.
David Becker, a respected authority from The Center for Election Innovation and Research, explained the improbability of such an event.
"It is not possible that Starlink was used to hack or change the outcome of the US presidential election. This, quite simply, did not happen, and could not happen, thanks to the security measures we have in place," said Becker.
The assertions made online posited that Starlink, known for its satellite-based high-speed internet, was utilized in vote manipulation processes.
However, officials clarified that while Starlink did provide internet access for some electoral processes like electronic poll book checking in rural areas, it was never connected to systems that tabulate votes.
Jen Easterly, Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, also affirmed the integrity of the recent election. "CISA has no evidence of any malicious activity that had a material impact on the security or integrity of our election infrastructure," she stated.
Further investigation revealed that voting machines across the U.S. are designed to operate without an internet connection, ensuring a secure environment against online intrusions.
"Nearly all U.S. voting machines are not internet-connected, and votes are audited manually to confirm electronic counts," Becker added, reinforcing the safeguards against potential cyber threats.
State officials from key swing states like North Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania reiterated their security measures. In North Carolina, for instance, laws strictly prohibit any internet connectivity to voting systems, as emphasized by Patrick Gannon. "Satellite-based internet devices were not used to tabulate or upload vote counts in North Carolina," Gannon said.
Georgia's procedures are similarly stringent, with no Starlink equipment ever being used in the election processes.
"Our election equipment is 100% air-gapped and never connected to the internet," confirmed Mike Hassinger from Georgia’s election office.
Contrary to social media claims, the use of Starlink in Pennsylvania was also confined to non-voting activities. "Counties do not use Starlink to transmit unofficial or official election results. No voting system in Pennsylvania is ever connected to the internet," reported Matt Heckel, an election official in Pennsylvania.
In California, advancements were made to improve connectivity at voting sites. Pamela Smith, a California election official, clarified that these improvements were aimed at enhancing the efficiency of electronic poll books.
"While Starlink provided connectivity in a number of jurisdictions for electronic poll books (EPBs) in this election, neither Starlink nor other types of communication networks play any role in counting votes," she explained.
This technological enhancement in Tulare County aimed to streamline the check-in process but was not involved in any aspect of vote counting or result transmission, ensuring the separation of connectivity from critical voting infrastructure.
The widespread refutation of the Starlink conspiracy theories by a broad spectrum of experts and officials highlights the resilience and security of American electoral processes, particularly against the backdrop of an increasingly digital landscape.
