Former elected officials say America’s elections are secure

Ohio Capital Journal reports on UC’s Digital Futures Flashpoint series panel discussion

Former elected officials, a Republican and a Democrat, said Americans should have faith in the security of elections in the United States during a Digital Futures Flashpoint series panel discussion, the Ohio Capital Journal reported.

University of Cincinnati Professor Richard Harknett, PhD, professor of political science and director of the School of Public and International Affairs, moderated a discussion at UC Digital Futures with former U.S. Rep. Zack Space, a Democrat, and former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, a Republican. Blackwell and Space are part of the Democracy Defense Project, a bipartisan coalition of former elected officials from Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Ohio.

Three men in suits sit in chairs on a stage as part of a panel discussion.

Former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, right, speaks during a Digital Futures Flashpoint series panel discussion. Former U.S. Rep. Zack Space, left, and UC Professor Richard Harknett, PhD, professor of political science and director of the School of Public and International Affairs, center, listen. Photo/Jared Fleckner

While Space and Blackwell have different opinions on the candidates and many issues, they both have faith in American elections.

“But we agree on this: if you cast your vote … you can rest assured that it will be counted,” Space said.

Democracy Defense Project aims to boost confidence in elections and increase voter participation.

“We need to turn up the volume to help people believe their vote does matter,” Blackwell said. “We can detect flaws in the system and fix flaws in the system. That’s something we do well in Ohio.”

See more from the Ohio Capital Journal.

Featured image at top: Former U.S. Rep. Zack Space, left, speaks during a Digital Futures Flashpoint series panel discussion, Securing Democracy: A Bipartisan Look in a Partisan Era. UC Professor Richard Harknett, PhD, professor of political science and director of the School of Public and International Affairs, center, and former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, right, listen. Photo/Jared Fleckner

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