Election officials are prepared for anything – Ash Center

In a climate of growing distrust of elections, election officials play a critical role in maintaining the integrity of the electoral process. This responsibility is particularly pronounced among the foreign ministers of important swing states, where the majority of votes in November is expected to be razor thin. With many Americans concerned about the security and reliability of elections, the Ash Center for Democratic Governance recently gathered the election officials of Arizona, Pennsylvania, Michigan and North Carolina to discuss their efforts to ensure a smooth and fair election process.

Archon Fung, director of the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, moderated the session and introduced the four officials as “some of the true heroes of American democracy.” Over the next hour, the group discussed the challenges of ensuring a successful election in which every vote is counted in a timely and accurate manner and, more importantly, in which the American public can have confidence in the process and results. “These four people are responsible for democracy in four of the states where it is under the most pressure this year,” Fung said. “No pressure, panelists!”

Throughout the conversation, panelists remained upbeat and upbeat, reassuring voters that they were trained for this and that America’s system of checks and balances still works. As Fung highlighted recent fears of growing political violence, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson responded: “As we begin the next six weeks, we are hoping for the best but planning for all eventualities.” She noted her office prepared for possible disruptions and emphasized the importance of partnerships – between states, with law enforcement agencies, and with federal and local officials – in addressing these challenges. “The best protection against potential violence is to be well prepared and committed to ensuring not only a peaceful transfer of power, but also a peaceful electoral process.”

Next, Fung turned to Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt to address the challenges posed by conducting elections in what many consider to be the most watched state in the country. Schmidt noted the decentralized nature of Pennsylvania’s election administration and described his role as “as supportive as possible so that our counties can run elections smoothly.” Facing the possibility that counties could refuse to certify election results, as has happened in the past, Schmidt promised that his department was prepared. “If it were to happen… then we will not need days or weeks to go to the courts and obtain a court order,” he assured, “[We’ll be ready] at 12:01 a.m. the next morning if they fail to comply with their legal obligations under the Act.”

Fung then turned to Arizona, where there are “very active and vocal groups” denying the 2022 election results in many parts of the state. He asked Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes about the steps they are taking to combat misinformation and reach out to skeptics. Fontes called it a “constant and ongoing battle that we have been fighting in Arizona” but said they would continue to fight back. He pointed out that recent election results in Arizona, where election deniers lost key races, reflect the waning influence of those who have doubts about the process. “If you ask the entire state of Arizona what they think, they say elections shouldn’t be denied – and not just because they’re destructive [to] civic belief… but also because it’s bad for business.” Fung agreed, noting, “It seems like some of the things that happened in 2020 and…” [2022]“The institutional antibodies somehow work.”

This month, all eyes have been on North Carolina as it struggles with the aftermath of the devastating Hurricane Kelene. Karen Brinson-Bell, executive director of the North Carolina Board of Elections, described the logistical challenges of conducting elections after natural disasters. She noted that although Helene had disrupted postal services, she and her team did everything possible to ensure a fair and reliable election. “We prepare, and then once we’ve checked the nuts and bolts and followed consistent, methodical procedures, we’ll be ready to pivot in the event of a crisis,” she said. “There is a lot going on in North Carolina, but the reality is that we are not stopping elections…And at the end of the day, we are determined: Every North Carolinian who wants to cast a vote will be able to do so. ”

As the event came to a close, one audience member commented that the panel discussion was deeply reassuring. Fung asked the panelists how they convey that sense of security to voters. In response, Fontes shared that since 2020, election officials have become “explainers in chief,” working to educate the public about the complexities of the electoral process.

The panelists concluded by emphasizing that they are all working to make the election process as transparent as possible. In Arizona, they built a new warehouse where observers can watch ballots being processed. There is a 24-hour live feed in Philadelphia. And if you’re still concerned, Brinson-Bell said, “become a poll worker, go to the meetings, do things to get involved, to understand these processes and all the layers that are in place to make sure that the people’s votes count and will be counted accurately.