Election officials express concerns about DHS role in 2024 security efforts

Why it matters locally: As with other states, election officials in Utah would be among those coordinating with federal agencies like DHS on cybersecurity and election infrastructure security, meaning these national concerns about federal involvement reflect on local election administration.

---

Voting administrators across the country have expressed concerns about the Department of Homeland Security's role in election security heading into 2024, according to interviews with election officials. These officials worry that DHS involvement in election matters could create complications rather than strengthen security measures. They did not provide specific examples of incidents prompting their concerns. The officials' apprehension centers on how DHS might respond to election results. Some administrators questioned whether the department would treat disputed outcomes as potential security threats or election integrity issues requiring federal intervention. Election officials typically coordinate with federal agencies including DHS on cybersecurity, voter registration database protection, and election infrastructure vulnerabilities. The relationship between state and local election administrators and federal security agencies shapes how elections operate in practice. The concerns raised by voting officials reflect broader questions about federal involvement in election administration. States retain primary responsibility for conducting elections, though federal agencies provide technical support and threat assessments. DHS officials have not responded to the specific concerns raised by voting administrators. The department continues its stated mission of protecting election infrastructure from foreign and domestic threats. Election officials have not detailed what specific actions by DHS they view as problematic. Their concerns remain focused on the department's potential approach to post-election disputes rather than documented past conduct. The timing of these concerns coincides with increased focus on election security across federal agencies. Multiple branches of government have expanded their roles in monitoring election-related threats in recent years. Voting administrators emphasized that their concerns relate to governance questions and the division of authority between state, local, and federal officials rather than criticisms of DHS personnel or resources.