CSSE Chair Neal Kelley provides testimony to U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security hosted a hearing Wednesday that focused on threats toward election officials. 

Neal Kelley, the chair of the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections (CSSE) and the former Orange County, California, Registrar of Voters, testified about his work with CSSE and the impact of threats on election officials. 

“Throughout my written testimony, I talk about the need to engage law enforcement in the election planning process,” said Kelley, who served in his role in Orange County for nearly 20 years. “However, I must make clear that I am not advocating for the presence of armed officers in polling places. This is a sensitive issue that should be handled with the seriousness that it deserves.” 

A full copy of Kelley’s written testimony can be found here. 

In addition to Kelley, New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, and Brennan Center for Justice Senior Counsel Elizabeth Howard provided testimony to the committee. 

About the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections

The Committee for Safe and Secure Elections is a cross-partisan national initiative that combines the expertise of both professions with the aim of providing guidance and training for preventing and responding to intimidation, threats, and violence against election officials and voters.

The goal of the committee is to protect elections, election administrators, and voters by building stronger relationships between election officials and law enforcement; developing solutions to respond to and curb intimidation and threats of violence; and creating and sharing resources and best practices for election officials and law enforcement.