City Club of Boise Virtual Conversation: COVID-19, Cybersecurity and Idaho's Elections

More than four in ten Americans — equally from both main political parties — say they are not too confident or not at all confident that the general election will be conducted fairly and accurately in November, according to a survey from the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project.

A federal judge blocked operational and policy changes made by the U.S. Postal Service that have slowed mail delivery, saying they amounted to “voter disenfranchisement.”

Despite little historic evidence of voter fraud across the country, about a quarter of the country and nearly half of Republicans believe it is a "major problem." But intelligence officials have confirmed widespread attempts at foreign manipulation of the 2016 election and the current FBI director said in September that his agency has seen "very active efforts by the Russians to influence our election in 2020."

And through it all the worldwide pandemic makes it potentially unhealthy or even fatal to gather in large groups, which threatens turnout, pushes more ballots to the mail, and has created a major challenge in finding enough people to work the polls this November. 

How will Idaho and its county officials handle one of the most potentially controversial elections in modern history?

Join the City Club of Boise in a conversation with Idaho Deputy Secretary of State Chad Houck, Ada County Clerk Phil McGrane, Idaho County Clerk Kathy Ackerman, and Boise State political science professor Jaclyn Kettler on how state and local officials are preparing to ensure that your vote is heard and protected. The online discussion, moderated by Boise State's School of Public Service Interim Associate Dean Jen Schneider, will be Wednesday, Oct. 7, from noon to 1:00 p.m.

Panelists

1. Chad Houck, Chief Deputy Secretary of State

2. Phil McGrane, Ada County Clerk

3. Kathy Ackerman, Idaho County Clerk

4. Jaclyn Kettler, BSU Department of Political Science

Moderator: City Club of Boise committee member Jen Schneider, Interim Associate Dean, Boise State's School of Public Service 

Program Chair: Greg Hahn

Attendees will be able to pose questions to the panel, via the moderator, using the Zoom Q/A feature or email questions directly to morgan@cityclubofboise.org