JOHNSTON, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau) – Election officials say they’re seeing the most threats they’ve ever seen. They also say the election system has never been more secure.

On election night, state and federal agencies will be at the State Emergency Operations Center in Johnston to monitor the election.

Iowa Department Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director John Benson said: “The best-case scenario is that we sit here for a long time and do nothing. “I expect that to happen as well, but if something were to happen, we have all the right institutions to coordinate any actions we might need to take as a state.”

Iowa Department Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens He says DPS will warn Iowans about misinformation and monitor for physical threats against election workers or polling places.

“Historically, misinformation has centered around claims about changes to polling places, operating hours, or voter intimidation intended to spread fear and distrust,” he said.

Even though Iowans vote via paper ballots and their ballots are not connected to the internet, various state and federal agencies monitor cyber threats to election websites.

Iowa National Guard “We will remain vigilant as we monitor attempts to interfere with the election website and associated electronic digital networks,” said Maj. Chris Johnson.

The FBI is the main agency investigating election crimes and is the one that sets up command centers across the country to monitor any threats.

Clint Nafey, Assistant Special Agent in Charge at the FBI office in Omaha“We encourage the public to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious activity to law enforcement,” he said.

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency He says 97 percent of Americans and 100 percent of Iowans have a paper record of their votes that can be audited, so you can trust the election results.

CISA Agency Region 7 Director Phil Kirk said, “Participate in our democracy. Get out there and vote, and if you have questions about the process, remember that your state and local election officials, your local county auditors, are the best sources for accurate information.

Iowa’s vote tabulators were tested before early voting began.

After the election, there will be an audit in which bipartisan teams will distribute ballots in randomly selected precincts in each county. The audits perfectly matched results in each district after the 2020 election, 2022 midterms and 2023 city school board races.

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Conner Hendricks covers state government and politics for Gray Media-owned stations in Iowa. Email him/her [email protected]; and follow him on Facebook Conner HendricksTV or on X/Twitter @ConnerReports.

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