Hackers access Illinois voter registration database

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois election officials say hackers attacked the state's voter registration system last week and it was shut off as a precaution.

The Springfield bureau of Lee Enterprises newspapers reports (http://bit.ly/29OzmYL ) the cyberattack happened July 13 and the voter system was shut off as a precaution on July 13. The board's general counsel, Ken Menzel, said hackers found "a chink in the armor in one small data field in the online registration system."

Menzel says the board is analyzing tracks left by the attack and isn't ready to say what information may have been accessed. He says the database is a frequent target of hackers but this is the first time the board is aware of hackers accessing it.

Menzel says the board is confident no voter information was altered.