×

Warner leading the way on security

West Virginians don’t give much thought to the office of Secretary of State. We don’t spend much time thinking about whether our elections are being carried out fairly and securely, or whether our employers have an easy and transparent relationship with state government.

Thankfully, we don’t have to. West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner has administered a series of quiet successes that mean residents can be confident he is doing the job well.

We continue to have the utmost faith and trust that the office is in very good hands.

Warner’s unique skill set and ability to carry out the responsibilities of his office are recognized across the country. Other secretaries of state turn to him for advice on election cybersecurity, and the use of technology to carry out the functions of the office.

He was the first secretary of state to utilize mobile voting, which allowed active duty military members from West Virginia stationed overseas to vote through a secure process.

West Virginia also, according to data from MIT, had the fifth-highest level of confidence in the 2020 election from both Democrats in Republicans. According to the data, 97% of Democrats surveyed had confidence in last year’s election, with confidence among Republicans at 87%.

Voters in neighboring states such as Pennsylvania, where election rules were rewritten during the pandemic, expressed much lower confidence in their state’s election system. Pennsylvania ranked 49th for overall voter confidence, according to the report.

Warner continues to do things right when it comes to elections. Perspective gained in more than two decades of U.S. Army service, and then five years in Afghanistan through the U.S. State Department, has translated favorably to Warner serving the people of West Virginia and advising those who serve residents of other states.

Now he has been chosen for the National Association of Secretaries of State’s Executive Board. He has helped the members of the NASS get security clearances and cybersecurity training, and was co-chair of the NASS Elections Committee during the 2020 election cycle. He has also been co-chair of the International Relations Committee.

What Warner has done for the people of West Virginia means he has a lot to offer the rest of the country, through his work on the NASS executive board. Given the number of questions raised over the past year, it is all the more important for Americans to understand they can trust there are people like Warner working diligently to ensure election security.

The NASS Executive Board has gained a valuable member.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today