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Secretary Benson visiting Israel with bipartisan delegation
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is currently visiting Israel as part of a bipartisan delegation from the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) that is examining cybersecurity policies and practices to better protect election administration, business services and other areas.
NASS is partnering with the American Jewish Committee’s Project Interchange in the weeklong education seminar, which is also intended to enhance U.S. relations with Israel among state officials. Participants are learning about Israel’s history, culture, challenges and innovations; and meeting leaders from across the nation, including top officials from Israel’s National Cyber Directorate.
“My administration is committed to ensuring our elections are secure, so that all Michiganders can vote with certainty that their vote will be counted and their voice will be heard,” said Benson. “I am honored to have the opportunity to visit Israel during this historic time and to work with my colleagues this week to ensure our efforts to protect our elections in the United States are fully informed and following best practices.
“I look forward to returning to Michigan later this week with a robust understanding of the global challenges facing election security, and the work we can do in our country and internationally to meet them.”
Participating secretaries of state include:
- John Merrill, Alabama
- Kevin Meyer, Alaska Lt. Governor
- Paul Pate, Iowa
- Scott Schwab, Kansas
- Matt Dunlap, Maine
- Jocelyn Benson, Michigan
- Corey Stapleton, Montana
- Barbara Cegavske, Nevada
- Tahesha Way, New Jersey
- Mac Warner, West Virginia
- Ed Buchanan, Wyoming
Members of the delegation are visiting Tel Aviv, Haifa, Israel’s northern and southern borders, and Jerusalem—including the Old City. They will also meet with Palestinian civic and business leaders in Ramallah in the Palestinian Authority.
More information on the trip is available in this NASS news release.
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For media questions, contact
Mike Doyle at DoyleM@Michigan.gov
AJC Project Interchange: For over 35 years, AJC Project Interchange (American Jewish Committee) has brought 6,000 influential figures to Israel from 110+ countries and all 50 U.S. states, offering broad exposure and first-hand understanding of the complex issues facing Israel and the region. projectinterchange.org
National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS): Founded in 1904, is the nation's oldest, nonpartisan professional organization for public officials. NASS serves as a medium for the exchange of information between states and fosters cooperation in the development of public policy. The association has key initiatives in the areas of elections and voting, state business services, and state heritage/archives. nass.org