Election officials ask for more federal money but say voting is secure in their states

NEW YORK (AP) — Top election officials from two presidential swing states on Wednesday pleaded for more federal money for election infrastructure, even as they express confidence in their preparations for November’s vote.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, both Democrats, said during a House Administration Committee hearing that they need continued funding to improve election security, replace aging machines, hire personnel and upgrade voter registration systems.

But they and the four other state election officials at the hearing said they have been stretching their resources to do everything possible to help eligible voters participate this fall and keep ineligible voters out of the process.

The appeal for more federal money comes as voting is about to begin in this year’s presidential election and as the first absentee ballots were starting to be mailed to voters. The election process also has been coming under intense scrutiny around the country, fueled by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s false claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, his warnings without evidence that noncitizens will illegally vote this year and his ominous pledge to prosecute anyone involved in what he called “rampant cheating” in this year’s election.

The disinformation has prompted threats that have forced election administrators to beef up security, as well as attacks toward election workers that at times have required a law enforcement response.

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