Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has launched the Pennsylvania Election Threats Task Force, which is comprised of Federal, state, and local security, law enforcement, and election administration partners who are collaborating to share information and coordinate plans to mitigate threats to the election process, protect voters from intimidation, and provide voters with accurate, trusted election information.
“Pennsylvania is the birthplace of American democracy, and we are working to continue defending Pennsylvanians’ fundamental freedoms and ensure we have a free, fair, safe, secure election this November,” the governor said. “We take our responsibility as stewards of our democracy seriously and the Election Threats Task Force will ensure all levels of government are working together to combat misinformation, safeguard the rights of every citizen, and ensure this election is safe, secure, free, and fair.”
The task force will be led by Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt.
“In recent years, we’ve seen bad-faith actors attempt to exploit these changes by spreading lies and baseless conspiracy theories, and attempting to delegitimize our safe, secure, and accurate elections,” said Schmidt.
“This task force has been working together to develop and coordinate plans to combat this dangerous misinformation and continue providing all eligible voters with accurate, trusted election information,” he said. “Together with Governor Shapiro and our local, state, and Federal partners, we will continue working to ensure we have another free and fair, safe, and secure election.”
The governor’s office said the task force’s purpose is to establish clear, strategic communication and information sharing among public agencies and officials to identify and mitigate threats to the election process. Task force members include representatives from the Governor’s office, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Pennsylvania State Police, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Office of Administration’s Office of Information Technology, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, Pennsylvania National Guard, and Office of State Inspector General, among other members.
“Every eligible Pennsylvania voter has the right to cast their vote safely and securely,” said Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris. “The Pennsylvania State Police is committed to working with our partners to ensure voters are safe and any threats are mitigated.”
