Friday 29th March 2024

jay-ashcroft-8-28-20

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is working with national, state and local leaders to bolster the state’s defenses in the lead up to the Nov. 3 general election.

Ashcroft says “With a momentous presidential election fast approaching, we are strengthening our defenses against the serious threats of cyberattacks, foreign interference and disinformation campaigns. Our office is working hand-in-hand with federal, state and local officials to safeguard the integrity of Missouri’s elections.”

A news release says on election night and days leading up to it, the Secretary of State’s Office will join officials from the Department of Defense, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the National Security Council, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, along with state partners from the Department of Public Safety and the Office of Administration’s Information Technology Services Division. The collective team of federal and state officials acts as a firewall, monitoring and assessing potential threats and sharing accurate information with federal, state and local leaders.

The Secretary of State’s Office maintains contact with the state’s fusion centers, including the Missouri Information Analysis Center, which serves as an information sharing and analysis hub for the entire state. The office also works with the Multi-State Information and Analysis Center and the Elections Infrastructure Information and Analysis Center.

Since 2018, the Secretary of State’s Office has obtained federal grants of more than $15 million through the Help America Vote Act. Since then, the office has used the funds to help local election authorities improve both their physical and cyber security.