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AP18:139

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 2018
Contact:
SOS Press Office
(916) 653-6575

Secretary of State Alex Padilla Statement on Trump Election Interference Executive Order

SACRAMENTO - California Secretary of State Alex Padilla issued the following statement after President Trump signed an executive order authorizing sanctions against foreign entities that interfere in our elections.

“Today’s executive order—like Trump’s response to Russian interference in the 2016 election—is grossly inadequate. While sanctions should be part of our strategy to punish nations who interfere in our elections, Trump has failed to take action to prevent interference from occurring in the first place. He has refused to establish meaningful, sustained funding to improve our election infrastructure. The executive order also fails to address the tools needed by elections officials to detect and combat interference, such as requiring paper ballots and post-election audits. We need real leadership, not hollow executive orders. Free and fair elections are the foundation of our country. Any attempt to subvert our democracy and threaten our elections should be met with the full force of our government—including the oval office.”

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