The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has offered to assist in the securing of the U.S.’s election systems for the upcoming midterm elections in November, according to a tweet from a U.S. senator on the Armed Services Committee. A Pentagon spokesperson has also announced that the DoD continues to collect intelligence and conduct operations in defense of the election system. Another spokesperson announced that the DoD is “capable of supporting local, state or federal department or agencies in response to a request for assistance,” provided it is within legal limits and approved by the relevant political and military officials. DHS is currently the federal agency leading election security efforts, and some experts have expressed concern at the thought of DoD involvement. “There are very good legal restrictions on why we never want the military involved in elections. Helping to secure voting machines puts the military far too close to the election process,” argued the assistant secretary of defense under the Obama administration.
Source: The military wants to help secure the midterm elections
