The top state election officials from throughout the U.S. are gathering this weekend in Philadelphia amid fresh revelations of Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election and just before President Donald Trump holds one-on-one talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The annual gathering has typically been a low-key affair highlighting such things as voter registration and balloting devices. This year’s meetings of the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors are generating far greater interest. The conference is sandwiched between Friday’s indictments of 12 Russian military intelligence officers alleged to have hacked into Democratic party and campaign accounts, and Trump’s long-awaited meeting with Putin.
Trump has never condemned Russia over its meddling in the 2016 elections despite the findings of all top U.S. intelligence agencies. In the past, Trump has reiterated Putin’s denials, but this week said he would bring up the issue when the two meet Monday in Finland.
“All I can do is say, ‘Did you?'” Trump said last week at a news conference in Brussels. “And, ‘Don’t do it again.’ But he may deny it.”
Some of the state officials who run elections say it’s important for the president to take a tougher stance to avoid having the public’s confidence in fair elections undermined.
Full Article: State election officials in US meet amid security concerns – Business Insider Deutschland.