Rounds Statement on Executive Order to Protect Election Security

WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Cybersecurity Subcommittee, today issued the following statement on the Executive Order President Trump signed to impose sanctions on foreign countries or people who interfere in U.S. elections: 

“Free and fair elections are a cornerstone of our republic. Today’s executive order draws a clear line in the sand and puts our adversaries on notice that we will not tolerate any meddling in our election process. All sanction possibilities are on the table for individuals or countries attempting to interfere. This is an important step in the right direction as we in Congress develop a long-term cyber deterrent policy, particularly when it comes to protecting the integrity of our election process. I am also pleased to see that any necessary response will be completed in a timely fashion.”

Rounds previously cosponsored the Secure Elections Act, which was introduced earlier this year by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.). This legislation would strengthen America’s election cybersecurity and protect against the possibility of future foreign interference by streamlining cybersecurity information-sharing between federal intelligence entities and state election agencies and providing security clearances to state election officials.

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