Bena highlights election security, accuracy in Senate hearing

November 1, 2023
By Civic Nebraska

In a U.S. Senate hearing on Nov. 1, Nebraska Deputy Secretary of State for Elections Wayne Bena discussed several of the state’s election security protocols and ongoing challenges in election administration.

Bena was one of five election experts invited to testify before the U.S. Senate Rules and Administration Committee.

“There is no doubt that challenges lie ahead in 2024,” Bena testified. “I am proud to work with Nebraska’s county election commissioners, county clerks, their staff, and their poll workers. We have handled all challenges before us one day at a time and one deadline at a time.”

Bena addressed the state’s work to keep polling places open in the May 2020 primary, as well as its work through U.S. Census delays to deliver legislative maps in time for election officials. He also discussed Nebraska’s dedication to enhancing security.

“Nebraska is always working to address potential areas of concern in our election processes,” Bena said. “In 2018, we led the way in securing our voter registration system. Nebraska implemented multi-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access on the front end, and on the back end, installed a computer intrusion detection device called an Albert Sensor, which detects malicious activity.”

Since Nebraska’s installation of the Albert Sensor, seven other states have replicated the security tool. In 2019, Nebraska earned the inaugural Innovators Award from the National Association of State Election Directors, or NASED, for its work to increase voter registration security.

Bena pointed to the effort of dedicated election officials and poll workers across the state who helped maintain safe and secure elections during the last few election cycles.

“Under Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen’s leadership, the Elections Division will work hard with our county election officials to ensure Nebraska’s elections will continue to be safe, accurate, and secure,” he said. “I would like to say to voters across this country: Your ballot will be waiting for you. Go cast it.”

– Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office