Former elected officials say America’s elections are secure
Ohio Capital Journal reports on UC’s Digital Futures Flashpoint series panel discussion
Former elected officials, a Republican and a Democrat, said Americans should have faith in the security of elections in the United States during a Digital Futures Flashpoint series panel discussion, the Ohio Capital Journal reported.
University of Cincinnati Professor Richard Harknett, PhD, professor of political science and director of the School of Public and International Affairs, moderated a discussion at UC Digital Futures with former U.S. Rep. Zack Space, a Democrat, and former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, a Republican. Blackwell and Space are part of the Democracy Defense Project, a bipartisan coalition of former elected officials from Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Ohio.
Former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, right, speaks during a Digital Futures Flashpoint series panel discussion. Former U.S. Rep. Zack Space, left, and UC Professor Richard Harknett, PhD, professor of political science and director of the School of Public and International Affairs, center, listen. Photo/Jared Fleckner
While Space and Blackwell have different opinions on the candidates and many issues, they both have faith in American elections.
“But we agree on this: if you cast your vote … you can rest assured that it will be counted,” Space said.
Democracy Defense Project aims to boost confidence in elections and increase voter participation.
“We need to turn up the volume to help people believe their vote does matter,” Blackwell said. “We can detect flaws in the system and fix flaws in the system. That’s something we do well in Ohio.”
Featured image at top: Former U.S. Rep. Zack Space, left, speaks during a Digital Futures Flashpoint series panel discussion, Securing Democracy: A Bipartisan Look in a Partisan Era. UC Professor Richard Harknett, PhD, professor of political science and director of the School of Public and International Affairs, center, and former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, right, listen. Photo/Jared Fleckner
Impact Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
Dark Energy Survey sheds light on expansion of universe
February 13, 2026
Astronomy talks to University of Cincinnati physicist Jessica Muir about an international project examining dark energy. The project could help explain why the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate.
How sports gambling is changing the game
February 13, 2026
Fantasy sports and the wager on which team will win a game are nothing new. But with sports gambling apps making it practically effortless for people to wager on just about any aspect of a match, gambling’s popularity is changing the game. The Journal-News turned to Mike Fry, professor of operations, business analytics and information systems at the University of Cincinnati’s Lindner College of Business to break down the rise and the risks of sports betting.
Scientists: Slushy snowmelt isn’t just a nuisance
February 13, 2026
Slushy snowmelt isn’t just a nuisance, scientists say. It can send a toxic flood of road salt, sand and car exhaust, as well as dog poop, into rivers and streams, The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine's Yevgen Nazarenko, PhD, assistant professor of environmental and industrial hygiene in the Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, recently told The New York Times that research has shined a light on how pollution from all sorts of vehicles — planes, cars, trucks — can get trapped in the snow.