Top Officials Sound Alarm on Election Security Threats

Top election officials from two U.S. states testified before a congressional panel, warning that ideological efforts to discredit the election system have led to increased threats against workers. They emphasized the need to protect election administrators to ensure a secure democracy. Recent claims of non-citizen voting were cited as misinformation.

Top election officials from two U.S. states sounded the alarm before a congressional panel on Wednesday, warning that confidence in the electoral system has been diminished by ideological campaigns to discredit it, leading to continuous threats against election workers.

"This is a vicious cycle that must be mitigated for the good of our country," said New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver in written testimony to the House of Representatives Administration Committee, which oversees federal elections. Toulouse Oliver is one of six officials addressing public confidence in the Nov. 5 election.

She noted that U.S. elections have been plagued by "conspiracies, misinformation, and outright lies," resulting in threats, violence, and frivolous public information requests. Democratic Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson echoed these concerns in a written statement, saying false information has driven threats and created an "omnipresent feeling of anxiety" among election administrators. Despite these challenges, Republican officials highlighted concerns about potential non-citizen voting, pointing to increased migrant activity as a contributing factor.

(With inputs from agencies.)