ARE THE 2020 ELECTIONS SECURE? US Military launches cyber training program for election officials across the country for 2020 election integrity https://d2pggiv3o55wnc.cloudfront.net/oann/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/AP19350706755641.jpg In this Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, photo, a booklet is held up during an exercise run by military and national security officials, for state and local election officials to simulate different scenarios for the 2020 elections, in Springfield, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) The U.S. Military has launched a cyber training program for election officials across the country in an effort to ensure the integrity of the 2020 elections. In a series of Thursday drills, military instructors provided guidelines and advice to officials from 24 states on how to defend elections from hacking. “If a democracy is under attack and you guys are the ones who are at the pointy end tip of the spear, why shouldn’t we train that way?” asked Belfer Center Co-Director Eric Rosenbach. https://mobile.twitter.com/BelferCenter/status/1210238594809565184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1210238594809565184&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.oann.com%2Fmilitary-election-officials-hold-joint-drills-to-ensure-election-security%2F The Pentagon said this kind of training is necessary to prevent uncertainty and fraud, which rocked the 2016 elections. Officials said both military and elections personnel are fighting to defend America’s democracy. “(We are) making sure that the hardest and the most challenging issues are dealt with by at least senior leadership,” said Elections Director Stephen Trout. “That the average call about, ‘Hey, where’s my polling place?’ or ‘Did you get my ballot?’ can be handled by staff with procedures.” Critics said irregularities like voting machine malfunctions, illegal voting and ballot harvesting pose a greater threat to U.S. elections than hypothetical hacking. https://d2pggiv3o55wnc.cloudfront.net/oann/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/AP19358664699567.jpg In this Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, photo, Mandy Vigil, from New Mexico, works during an exercise run by military and national security officials, for state and local election officials to simulate different scenarios for the 2020 elections, in Springfield, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) source - https://www.oann.com/military-election-officials-hold-joint-drills-to-ensure-election-security/