We are deeply concerned residents and voters of Lake County, Ohio. Our lives have been directly impacted by a disconcerting event that unfolded on May 4, 2021. On this day, our Board of Elections experienced an attempted cyberattack from within the County Administration Center’s network. This attack has not only threatened the integrity of our democratic process, but it also left us vulnerable to potential future attacks due to the digital mapping of the county network being spread online following the attack. Most alarming is the potential involvement of county officials. Lake County Commissioner John Hamercheck has publicly promised to present his involvement and knowledge of the cyberattack. However, this has not happened and we have watched Hamercheck come up with excuse after excuse.

Hamercheck's County ID was mysteriously used multiple times to open the office where the attack was coming from on the day of the cyberattack. Whom the ID was with and why it wasn't reported as missing if it wasn't Hamercheck himself coming and going from the room multiple times that day remains a mystery - a mystery that, as Lake County residents, we believe we have a right to uncover. Our democracy is solidified by the trust we hold in those we elect, and it tears at the seams when that trust is violated. 

Edit 10/03/2024: Commissioner Hamercheck has admitted on the record that he was in his possession of his County ID and was the one using it on May 4, 2021. However, he refuses to tell us who gave him the laptop used in the attack, who else was in the office with him, or who else was involved in the planning and execution of the attack.

We call upon Commissioner Hamercheck to fulfill his promise of public disclosure. Let his involvement and knowledge of the cyberattack be openly displayed, along with information about the person who had his County ID on that day, and a valid reason why it went unreported as missing if it was not Commissioner Hamercheck using it on May 4, 2021. With this knowledge in the public sphere, it is our hope that we can prevent future threats and attacks. This is the accountability we deserve as Lake County residents. We therefore urge you to sign this petition, demanding transparency from Commissioner Hamercheck.

Reporting on the Cyberattack

Washington Post​

News Herald​

Admission