Augusta — The Maine Secretary of State Department continues to review and analyze the impact of President Trump’s recently signed executive order entitled “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections.” The order impacts both the Bureau of Corporation, Elections, and Commissions and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, both part of the Maine Secretary of State Department, through its attacks on data integrity in state systems.
“Maine elections are free, safe, secure and accessible. Executive orders cannot change federal voter registration law or Maine election law. Nor can executive orders compel Maine to enter into data sharing agreements to turn over information about Maine citizens to anyone. In our democracy, the power and authority to make law lies with the legislative branch.
It is ironic that President Trump asserts this Executive Order will protect ‘election integrity’ when his Administration just zeroed out all funding for states to protect election integrity through the Cybersecurity Infrastructure and Security Agency and the Election Infrastructure – Information Sharing and Analysis Center.
I have serious concerns about the policies proposed in the Executive Order that would make it harder to vote for women, military and overseas voters and rural citizens. I am also deeply concerned about the data sharing requirements listed in the Executive Order. Mainers should be able to trust that their voter registration and driver’s license data will be protected by their government. Previous and ongoing actions by this administration have shown a disregard for information security and data privacy, so I will work with my colleagues in Maine and around the country to protect the rights of Maine voters and the security of our elections.”
Secretary Bellows chairs the Election Infrastructure – Information Sharing and Analysis Center, a federal/state/local/tribal election security and cybersecurity partnership of election officials recently defunded by the Department of Homeland Security.
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