Iowa's Paul Pate Leads Charge on Restoring Election Trust

The aftermath of the 2020 election has fundamentally changed how Americans view the voting process. At the recent National Association of Secretaries of State summer conference held right here in Iowa, state election officials acknowledged a radically different landscape. A once-in-a-generation pandemic and intense public scrutiny have reshaped the system. For many of these officials, who also handle business registrations and professional licensing, election administration now dominates their daily work.

Iowa Focuses on Technical Transparency

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, a Republican currently serving his second stint in the role, noted that voters are demanding more transparency than ever before. The public used to ignore the technical details of how elections are run. Now, they want to know exactly how the process works to ensure their votes are counted accurately.

And what we've seen in the last two cycles, they want more. Our messaging is probably going to be more technical.

Pate explained that providing clear, factual details about election mechanics is the best way to rebuild confidence in the system.

Practical Steps to Counter Misinformation

Instead of dismissing public concerns, some secretaries are taking practical steps to open up the process and combat misinformation. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican who co-chairs the NASS elections committee, emphasized tangible actions to build trust. Last year, his office recruited and trained 150 percent of the poll workers normally required. This ensured the state could handle any pandemic disruptions, but it also created a large network of informed citizens who could counter false claims in their own communities.

When somebody at church says, 'Hey, did you hear about that polynomial algorithm,' or all these wild things that somebody spreads? They can lean over and say, 'I did the training, man. That stuff's not true.

LaRose's approach relies on everyday citizens to safeguard the integrity of the vote at the local level.

Engaging Lawmakers and Community Leaders

Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, a Republican and the state's chief election officer, stressed the importance of involving state legislators. She has invited lawmakers to tour county clerk offices to see election operations firsthand. Henderson noted that lawmakers can either help educate their constituents or accidentally fuel the outrage.

State legislators really are closest to the people. They're the boots on the ground. They can actually help perpetuate the misinformation themselves, or they can help simmer things down and provide education to their constituents.

She added that some officials remain addicted to the outrage and are actively working to undermine public trust, highlighting the need for accountability at all levels of government.

The Push for Better Security and Audits

Election officials at the conference nearly universally agreed on a series of guidelines for post-election audits. This move aims to provide a standardized, transparent way to verify results and address the ongoing disputes over the 2020 election. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, successfully pushed her legislature to expand her elections staff and create a separate election audit and security division.

Officials are also expanding their outreach to meet voters where they are. Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, a Democrat, argued that offices need to meet younger voters on platforms like TikTok to counter internet rumors with facts.

We can't combat memes and TikTok videos about voter fraud with PDFs on government websites that nobody's going to read.

Rising Security Concerns for Officials

The heightened political climate has also brought personal safety to the forefront. Security was highly visible at the Iowa conference, with uniformed officers a regular presence. At least one secretary brought private security, and another reported a violent threat to law enforcement while attending the event in Des Moines.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, expressed concern that persistent threats could drive good people away from election administration. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, also a Democrat, reported receiving death threats linked to internet conspiracy theories.

In response, the Department of Justice announced a new task force in June to investigate threats against election officials. John Keller, principal deputy chief of the DOJ's public integrity section, admitted the previous federal response had been inadequate.

Looking Ahead to 2022 and Beyond

As states prepare for local elections this year and a chaotic post-redistricting midterm cycle in 2022, election administrators are eager to move forward. Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman, a Republican, summed up the challenge facing the country.

I think we're all just kind of trying to figure out when is 2020 going to end, and when are we going to start looking forward? I don't think it's going to happen anytime soon.

For Iowa and the rest of the nation, the path forward requires a commitment to transparency, robust audits, and community engagement to ensure that every legal vote is counted and public trust is restored.