The people who count votes in Florida realize the eyes of the nation will be on them again as millions of people make their choices in the 2018 election. Supervisors of elections from the state’s 67 counties will meet this week at a Fort Lauderdale oceanfront resort hotel for three days of brainstorming. They’re preparing for a trouble-free midterm election in the nation’s premier battleground state, with its long history of close races and nail-biting election nights. Here are five specific issues they will deal with at their annual summer conference. The possibility of more malicious attempts, especially from Russian hackers, to disrupt Florida’s election is on every election supervisor’s mind. “It’s the No. 1 priority on every election supervisor’s preparation list,” said Pinellas Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark. Supervisors will hear from a top official of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on what more should be done to protect the integrity of voting systems. The conference comes just days after President Donald J. Trump eliminated the position of national cybersecurity coordinator.
In addition, counties are frustrated that two months after Congress approved expedited election security money for states – including $19 million for Florida – the money still sits in Washington.
Every state must file a detailed application, including a line item budget specifying how the money would be spent.
“I’m going to be pushing hard to get some answers,” said Mark Earley, supervisor of elections in Tallahassee’s Leon County.
Full Article: Russian hackers, long lines, voting data: What Florida elections officials are talking about this week | Tampa Bay Times.