Digital Government
Governors, Mayor Implore Trump Administration Not to Send D.C.-Area Feds Back to the Office Prematurely
Acting too soon would endanger residents, they say.
Digital Government
States Start Hiring Battalions of Contact Tracers to Track Covid-19
As governors look to loosen coronavirus restrictions, a key benchmark will be improving the ability to track and isolate new cases. That will include more “contact tracers,” investigators who track down those who’ve come in contact with infected people.
Digital Government
Need Help With Covid-19 Tech? This Nonprofit Connects Volunteers with Governments
The U.S. Digital Response, a new nonprofit, dispatches tech-sector volunteers to assist governments with coronavirus-related projects.
Ideas
Government Secrecy Is Growing During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Local, state and federal officials throughout the United States have locked down information from the public.
Digital Government
Coronavirus Cases to Jump with Increase in Testing Capacity
Health officials said Monday that as testing shifts from public labs to commercial labs the number of coronavirus cases will increase. The insufficient testing capability has been a major criticism of the disease response.
Cybersecurity
West Virginia Scraps Voatz Mobile Voting App
The West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office announced it would use a different electronic absentee voting technology after researchers raised security concerns with the previous voting app it had used.
Cybersecurity
Some Election-Related Websites Still Run on Vulnerable Software Older Than Many High Schoolers
Our analysis found that websites in dozens of towns and counties voting on Super Tuesday have security weaknesses. Richmond, Va., still uses software from 2003.
Digital Government
Census Advocates Spread the Word on New Online Forms
March letters will kick off the decennial count.
Policy
Taxing Internet Ads Could Raise Lots of Money, but Doubts Persist
Maryland could be the first in the nation to tax online ads.
Cybersecurity
Report Warns of Tech Threats From ‘Other’ Chinese Companies
“The one area that China has been keen to exploit is at the state level because state governments largely are not aware of the threat it poses to them,” Sen. Marco Rubio said at the report’s release.
Digital Government
One-Third of U.S. Residents Suspicious of Census, Survey Finds
As the political stakes become clearer, more states are trying to motivate residents to participate in the census this spring.
Ideas
AI Algorithms Intended to Root Out Welfare Fraud Often End Up Punishing the Poor Instead
These systems must be designed in ways that are fair, transparent and accountable to prevent hurting society’s most vulnerable.
Ideas
How Citizen Scientists Can Help Protect Water Quality
One of the ways to help these groups gather data is to give them better tools and training.
Cybersecurity
CISA leans into facilitator role in election security plan
A strategic plan for protecting the 2020 elections from foreign interference lays out a number of plans to support and empower other stakeholders from hacks, influence operations and other threats.
Modernization
Frustrated by Flawed Broadband Maps, States Are Trying to Create Their Own
The Federal Communications Commission’s broadband maps underestimate the number of households that lack internet service. State agencies are trying to gather better data.
Cybersecurity
Iowa’s Lesson: Political Parties Are Not as Good as Government Officials at Counting Votes
Most primaries are run by state and local governments. But caucuses are different—and Iowa shows how that can be a problem.
Cybersecurity
With Cybercriminals on the Attack, States Help Cities Punch Back
As cybercriminals increase their attacks against local governments, some states are helping cities and counties better protect themselves.
Digital Government
The Census Already Started in Alaska. Native Translators Are Working to Prevent Undercount Repeat.
Across the country, tribal and non-English speaking communities are creating guidance and messages in a variety of languages to encourage Census 2020 participation.
Emerging Tech