Given the rising threat of cyber-attacks, and to ensure the security of elections in Michigan, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced the creation of an Election Security Commission. It will bring together 18 local and national experts on cybersecurity and elections, with the goal of securing elections and protecting the integrity of every vote. Through their role, members will advise the Secretary of State and the Bureau of Elections on best practices.

The commission will convene in early April to begin its review and assessment of election security in the state. It will later host hearings throughout the state and invite citizen and expert input on election problems and security. The commission will deliver a set of recommended reforms and actions by the end of 2019. Its work is funded through a federal grant.

Members of the Commission:

• • Commission Co-Chair: David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research
  • Commission Co-Chair: Alex Halderman, professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Michigan
  • Tripp Adams, Michigan chapter lead for the Truman National Security Project, attorney
  • Tina Barton, Rochester Hills city clerk
  • Barb Byrum, Ingham County clerk
  • Rich DeMillo, professor of computer science at Georgia Tech
  • Chris DeRusha, chief security officer for the State of Michigan
  • Joshua M. Franklin, president and co-founder of OutStack Technologies
  • Cathy M. Garrett, Wayne County clerk.
  • Liz Howard, election security counsel with the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice
  • Rachel Huddleston, publications/communications associate for Michigan Protection & Advocacy Service Inc.
  • Matthew V. Masterson (non-voting liaison), senior cybersecurity advisor, Office of Cybersecurity and Communications, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
  • Walter R. Mebane Jr., professor of political science and statistics at the University of Michigan
  • Jennifer Morrell, former election official in Utah and Colorado, consultant with Democracy Fund on Election Validation Project
  • Tim Snow, Kalamazoo county clerk and register of deeds
  • Maurice Turner, senior technologist at the Center for Democracy & Technology
  • Dan Wallach, professor of computer science and Rice Scholar at the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University
  • Wayne Williams, former Colorado secretary of state

Michigan Legislative Consultants is a bipartisan lobbying firm based in Lansing, Michigan. Our team of lobbyists and procurement specialists provide a wide range of services for some of the most respected companies in America. For more on MLC, visit www.mlcmi.com or connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.