The online voting system could jeopardize voter privacy and allow votes to be altered, the experts said. SERVE is part of the U.S. Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP).

The Electronic Absentee System allows eligible voters to cast their ballot online beginning 45 days before the federal election, which for the general Election Day on Nov. 5, was Friday, Sept. 20.

A federally funded Internet-based voting system for absentee voters poses serious security risks, according to members of an expert panel.