False narratives on election integrity seek to divide, scare Americans  

Voters have been hearing a lot about our elections this year and how they’re run. Ever since the contentious 2020 race for the White House, the nuts and bolts of American elections have become a centerpiece of our political zeitgeist — and a frequent target of those seeking to undermine the public’s confidence in our democratic institutions.

As former secretaries of state, we have witnessed firsthand the dedication, precision and security measures that go into running elections. We can assure every American that our elections in the United States are accessible, secure, fair and accurate. 

With less than 30 days to go before the final ballots are cast, we’ve seen a growing chorus of voices attempting to disrupt and sow doubts about the legitimacy of our elections. But let us make one thing absolutely clear: Our elections are not rigged, corrupt or compromised. We’ve overseen elections ourselves, and we know that the work being done by election officials across the country is built on integrity, accuracy and a deep commitment to our Constitutional principles. 

Still, these false narratives have contributed to sharp divides among Americans when it comes to confidence in our elections.  

We hear a great deal about election integrity. What is less publicized is the exhaustive work being done by election officials in each state, county and municipal jurisdiction to safeguard the integrity of the vote. These dedicated individuals — our neighbors, friends and family — are committed to ensuring that every eligible vote is counted fairly and accurately. They raise their hands and take an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution and the constitution and laws of their state.  

Elections aren’t a part-time job. Preparation begins months, even years, before a single vote is cast. Local election officials work methodically to update voter rolls, test voting equipment, train poll workers and so much more, ensuring that each process created has sufficient cross checks to detect abnormalities.

Election offices also partner with cybersecurity experts, state offices and federal agencies to ensure that processes remain secure. Although each state legislature establishes their laws, all states have security measures in place to guarantee the integrity of every vote. These multi-layered systems help guard against fraud and other threats that may otherwise harm our democracy.   

After a voter has met all registration and identification requirements, which vary by state, officials throughout the U.S. meticulously count every eligible ballot. They ensure that the number of eligible voters matches the number of ballots cast, and that each voter only had one ballot counted. Election officials vigilantly document and preserve all chain-of-custody protocols for election materials. Bipartisan teams will also conduct audits and recounts to ensure results are accurate and reflect the will of the voters. 

So, the next time you hear someone cast doubt on our elections or see a viral post in your newsfeed making unfounded claims about our fellow Americans who must vote abroad, consider the source. When politicians or pundits spread rumors like this, they're usually trying to divide Americans and scare them. We should reject these attempts at division and fear because so many around the world look to our elections as the model of freedom and fairness. 

We understand that many Americans have questions about how elections work. That’s a good thing. But it’s important that we get our information from reliable sources. The best place to go is directly to your state or local election office, which you can find here. Every state has a dedicated website where you can find accurate information about the election process and contact information for your local election official. Someone there will be ready to help answer your questions — and who knows, they may just be your next-door neighbor. 

Natalie Tennant (D) is former secretary of state of West Virginia. Kim Wyman (R) is the former secretary of state from Washington and the former senior election security advisor for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Both are members of Issue One’s bipartisan National Council on Election Integrity.