Joint Statement from Elections Infrastructure Government Coordinating Council Executive Committee on Protecting 2020

For Immediate Release — Oct. 22, 2020 — Washington, D.C. — 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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NASS Media Contact:
Maria Benson, Director of Communications
mbenson@sso.org | 202-624-3528 | www.nass.org