October 22, 2020
For Immediate Release
Silver Spring, MD - The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Assistant Director Bob Kolasky, U.S. Election Assistance Commission Chair Ben Hovland, National Association of Secretaries of State President and New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, National Association of State Election Directors President and Washington Director of Elections Lori Augino, and Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford—all members of the Government Coordinating Council Executive Committee—issued the following statement:
“Last night’s announcement by Director of National Intelligence and the Federal Bureau of Investigation should serve as an important reminder that we must remain steadfast in our efforts to secure America’s elections. Since 2016, federal, state, and local partners have worked to prepare for the November 3, 2020 General Election. While this year has thrown unprecedented obstacles in our way, the entire election community stands ready for the task ahead and united in our goal to protect our democracy from interference.
Americans, however, must remain diligent: rely on trusted sources – your state and local election officials – for information about the upcoming election. Only share information from those trusted sources. Encourage others to look to those sources for information about the election. Election officials have invested time and money in securing election systems and equipment, but the last line of defense is the trust of the American people.
We are committed to making sure that American voters determine the outcome of the election. Be prepared for attempts to confuse or misinform; be prepared before casting your ballot; and be prepared for foreign efforts aimed at sowing division and undermining the legitimacy of the election. An informed public is the best defense we have to #Protect2020.”
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The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) was established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). It is an independent, bipartisan commission charged with ensuring secure, accurate and accessible elections by developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, and serving as a national clearinghouse of information on election administration. EAC also accredits testing laboratories and certifies voting systems, as well as administers the use of HAVA funds. For more information, visit www.eac.gov.
Contact: Kristen Muthig
Phone: 202-897-9285
Email: [email protected]