berlin germany election chief urge state officials address vulnerabilities vote collation software weeks sept. 24 election officials fear could subject foreign interference germans vote paper poll station mail advance ballot count enter computer system two news report publish thursday cite concern software particularly lack authentication step result transmit die zeit say martin tschirsich 29-year-old computer expert able find passwords internet gain access maintenance program pc-wahl pc-election software would allow manipulate election secure hack tell weekly newspaper similar concern raise another expert online version spiegel magazine report come repeat warn government officials russia could try interfere election french u.s. intelligence officials say moscow seek influence recent vote russia deny accusations respond media report federal election director dieter sarreither say familiar problems identify ask state officials software company vote-it take step shore security vote-it immediate comment measure sarreither demand include mandatory installation software patch development new step aim ensure authenticity election result send digitally perhaps telephone call would ensure errors data transmission recognize correct preliminary election result release sarreither say add actual result could manipulate base paper ballot security data important speed result release office say germany federal cyber protection agency bsi say work closely election officials software manufacturer improve security election result future information technology base bsi-certified software use election process bsi chief arne schoenbohm say german election chief urge action ensure vote software ca n't hack