Fighting election disinformation is a bipartisan issue
#TrustedInfo2020 campaign urges Americans to rely on state and local elections officials for accurate information
OPINION — As we head into 2020, Americans should turn to their state and local election officials for their election questions — anything from voter registration and polling locations to voting methods and more.
These officials are the verified, trusted sources for election information. By driving voters to them, we can cut down on the misinformation and disinformation that can surround elections and ensure that all citizens have the accurate information they need to vote.
To help spread this message to eligible voters across the nation, the National Association of Secretaries of State, or NASS, is launching the bipartisan #TrustedInfo2020 education initiative. As president and president-elect of NASS, from different parties, we urge people to go to their state and local election officials for all election-related information.
Each state has a chief election official who oversees elections. While 40 secretaries of state across the country serve as their state’s chief election official, elections in 10 states and 6 U.S. territories are run by a board or commission of elections.
When looking for your state’s chief election official, CanIVote.org is a good place to start. This is a nonpartisan website created by election officials and run by NASS to help eligible voters find out how and where to vote. This site will direct you to your state election official’s page where you will find all the information you need to successfully vote on or before Election Day.
Also, be sure to follow the verified accounts of your chief state election official on social media for election information, news and updates.
NASS is proud to have 28 organizations as partners to amplify #TrustedInfo2020 messaging, including the Brennan Center for Justice, Campaign Legal Center, Facebook, Google, the National Association of State Election Directors, Nonprofit VOTE, Twitter, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, Verified Voting, Women in Government and YMCA Youth in Government.
NASS is a great place for secretaries of state to exchange ideas. We are fortunate to have this organization which brings us together to better serve the American people. When we join forces to tackle these bipartisan issues, we strengthen our democracy. Help us by sharing only verified, credible election information and promoting #TrustedInfo2020 from your state and local election officials.
Paul Pate is a Republican serving as secretary of state of Iowa and president of the National Association of Secretaries of State.
Maggie Toulouse Oliver is a Democrat serving as secretary of state of New Mexico and is the president-elect of NASS.
For more #TrustedInfo2020 and to see the full list of partners, visit nass.org.