Election security on the minds of voters following FBI news conference

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif.

A steam of voters dropped off their ballots at the Santa Barbara County Elections office box while the FBI announced findings from an investigation into foreign influence.

The Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said the intelligence community believes Iran and Russia have access to voter information.

He said Iran has used email information and that Russia has the ability to do the same like it did in 2016.

Ratcliffe said intimidating emails have been sent to voters based on party affiliation with messages about how they had better vote to re-elect President Trump.

In some instances, the sender posed as members of the Proud Boys white supremacist group.

FBI director Christopher Wray said, "Unverified claims should be viewed with a healthy does of skepticism."

Teri Ball of Goleta said she heard about the issue on her way to the ballot box. She hopes everyone is aware of false social media information.

"We look to primary sources and get real information before we react to anything," said Ball.

Operatives may also be spreading false information about voters overseas.

"We are not going to tolerate foreign interference in our elections or any criminal activity that threatens the sanctity of your vote or undermines public confidence in the outcome of the election," said Wray.

FBI officials said they wanted to be transparent about findings less than two weeks before the Nov. 3 Election Day.