Husted doesn't want uninvited feds overseeing elections

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted addressed his objections to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security decision to designate voting machines and other aspects of the election process as in need of urgent cybersecurity assistance at the Ohio Election Association Officials’ conference this afternoon.

The Republican’s concern was Homeland Security’s unwillingness to put into writing that they will not intervene in any election in any state without the express consent of that state. He conveyed his attitude of a healthy distrust of the federal government.

“Whether it’s a Homeland Security secretary appointed under President Obama or one appointed under President Trump, I don’t want the federal government to have authority to invite themselves into our elections process in Ohio or any other state without our permission,” Husted said, followed to applause.

The National Association of Secretaries of State conference in February will focus on clarifying the issue, Husted said. If the department continues to evade a written statement and will not remove the designation, the NASS will ask Congress to clarify in law that Homeland Security cannot intervene in state elections without consent.

Read more: http://www.dispatch.com/content/blogs/the-daily-briefing/2017/01/01112017-husted-on-fed-involvement.html