Leaders in election security gathered at a summit hosted by the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology and Education Center at the University of Nebraska at Omaha to discuss the importance of upholding election integrity ahead of the Nov. 5 election. Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen emphasized that election security is a dynamic challenge that requires a dynamic response. Other secretaries of state from Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota, and Kansas, as well as the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Jen Easterly, highlighted the ongoing efforts to protect elections from threats like ransomware and foreign influence.
The officials stressed the imperative of ensuring election confidence and encouraged more people to get involved in the election process. They noted that while election results may not be finalized immediately after Election Day, the process is designed to ensure accuracy and integrity, particularly in close races. The importance of protecting the voting process and its facilitators, as well as maintaining public trust in the democratic process, was emphasized.
Research by the NCITE center is focused on tracking threats to election workers and emerging technologies that could pose challenges to election security. The officials also discussed the potential for foreign adversaries to attempt to disrupt the election process and emphasized the need for collaboration and vigilance to safeguard democracy.
Overall, the message from the summit was clear: election officials are committed to upholding the integrity and security of the election process, and it is up to all Americans to do their part in protecting and preserving democracy.
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