Arkansas election integrity solid, but more federal funding needed for protection

Earlier this year, Arkansans went to the polls to cast votes for state and federal office. And while much attention was paid to Super Tuesday and the presidential election results, more recently, voters went back to the booth to select candidates in a slate of down-ballot races in our state’s primary runoffs.

I’m always encouraged to see Arkansans fulfilling their civic duty, and as we close the books on another successful primary election and turn our attention to the general election in November, I can confidently say that the state of Arkansas’ election system is strong.

Often overlooked during busy election cycles are the election workers who dedicate themselves to the safe and secure administration of our state’s elections. These public servants are like air traffic controllers in that they only make it into the headlines when something goes wrong—which explains why there aren’t any articles about them. However, it is thanks to their efforts that Arkansas maintains a sterling reputation for election administration, earning us the ranking of sixth overall in the Heritage Foundation’s Election Integrity Scorecard.

This track record is even more impressive when you consider the emerging challenges facing our nation’s election systems. These headwinds include complex cyber threats from adversarial nations, deteriorating physical assets, and struggles in maintaining adequate staffing levels.

Fortunately, Arkansas has navigated these issues with poise and dexterity, but this has required assistance and collaboration across a range of partners.

One of the instruments that has been critical to our ability to ward off threats to our election system has been the support from Congress, especially leaders from Arkansas’ congressional delegation. Historically, federal funding for the improvement of our state’s election infrastructure has helped move the needle when it comes to technological upgrades needed to stay one step ahead of sophisticated ransomware and cyber-attacks as well as more routine requirements like reliable electricity and broadband connectivity.

And while it was encouraging to see $55 million dedicated to strengthening our election infrastructure in the recently enacted appropriations package—approximately $1 million of which is eligible to flow to Arkansas—we should move toward right-sizing federal investment to reflect the realities on the ground in election offices across Arkansas. As recently as fiscal year 2020 and the years before it under the previous Administration, annual federal funding for election infrastructure was hovering around $400 million, but that figure has been steadily declining ever since.

As federal funding has waned, the cybersecurity pressures on our election system have only intensified.  The most recent threat assessment from the U.S. intelligence community warns that hostile nations, including China and Iran, are upping their cyber and malign influence operations to undermine public trust in America’s institutions and advance their global ambitions. Election offices need to be equipped with modernized computers, operating systems, and training so that we can continue to successfully thwart attempts to erode confidence in our democratic process.

I have long been a stalwart champion for Arkansas’ election system, and I can say with absolute assurance that our state’s elections are the gold standard that others should strive toward. I look forward to supporting our leaders in Congress as they work to reverse the recent downward trajectory in federal investment and return funding to the previous level of approximately $400 million so we can continue to fortify our election system and deliver safe and secure elections for years to come.

Editor’s note: John Thurston is Arkansas’ Secretary of State, the chief election officer in state. The opinions expressed are those of the author.