US Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said on Wednesday that Russia and Iran have both tried to interfere with the 2020 presidential election.
“We have confirmed that some voter registration information has been obtained by Iran, and separately, by Russia,” Mr Ratcliffe said during a hastily-arranged news conference.
"This data can be used by foreign actors to attempt to communicate false information to registered voters that they hope will cause confusion, sow chaos and undermine your confidence in American democracy.
"We have already seen Iran sending spoofed emails designed to intimidate voters, incite social unrest and damage President Trump.”
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Mr Ratcliffe - who was appointed by Mr Trump - also said Iran is distributing "other content" to imply that individuals can cast fraudulent ballots even from overseas.
"These actions are desperate attempts by desperate adversaries," he said.
"Although we have not seen the same actions from Russia, we are aware that they have obtained some voter information just as they did in 2016.”
Mr Ratcliffe has been under fire in recent days after getting involved in a controversial story about the supposed business dealings of presidential hopeful Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe says Iran and Russia have obtained US voter data. Source: AP
The Biden campaign has suggested that the laptop story could be a disinformation campaign mounted by Russia, which was accused of meddling in the 2016 US election.
Mr Ratcliffe said there was "no intelligence" to support that theory, and the intelligence community has since refused to elaborate.
Mr Ratcliffe and FBI director Chris Wray said the US would impose costs on any foreign countries that sought to interfere in the 2020 US election.
He urged "every American" to make sure the interference efforts do not achieve their goal.
"If you receive an intimidating or manipulative email in your inbox, don't be alarmed and do not spread it. This is not a partisan issue," Mr Ratcliffe said.
A government source said US authorities have evidence that Russia and Iran had tried to hack into voter roll
data in unidentified states.
But the source added that because much of that voter data is available commercially, the hacking may have been aimed at avoiding payment.
Mr Ratcliffe sought to downplay fears that their vote might not count.
"Early unverified claims to the contrary should be viewed with a healthy dose of scepticism," he said. "We encourage everyone to seek election and voting information from reliable sources.
"Namely, your state election officials, and to be thoughtful, careful, and discerning consumers of information online."
- With Reuters, AFP
