MCGRANE: Why We Keep Talking About Election Security

By Secretary of State Phil McGrane

Highlights from the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office
July 17, 2026

Behind This Week’s Headlines

One thing I’ve learned in elections is that headlines change quickly.

The work doesn’t.

If you’ve been following this newsletter for any length of time, you’ve probably heard me repeat the familiar refrain that Idaho has secure elections, among the most secure in the country. Secure elections are built around strong voter ID laws, cybersecurity, routine voter roll maintenance, paper ballots, post-election audits, equipment testing, and the dedicated work of election officials in all 44 Idaho counties.

This week is a good reminder of why I keep coming back to those fundamentals.

This week, Idaho was among the states that received a letter from the Department of Justice, while a related lawsuit over Idaho’s voter registration records remains on hold pending appeals. Just days later, President Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mullin publicly recognized Idaho’s efforts to maintain accurate voter rolls and our work with federal partners to ensure their integrity.

I was proud to see Idaho recognized. Following Governor Little’s Only Citizens Can Vote Act, we worked with the Department of Homeland Security to compare Idaho’s voter registration records against federal citizenship data. That review reinforced what I’ve said for years: Idaho’s voter rolls are among the cleanest in the nation because maintaining them is a year-round responsibility.

That recognition belongs to Idaho’s county clerks and election staff. Their careful, behind-the-scenes work rarely makes headlines, but it is one of the biggest reasons Idaho continues to earn the confidence of voters and recognition from our federal partners.

We will continue following Idaho law, protecting sensitive voter information, partnering with federal agencies where appropriate, and doing the work that keeps Idaho’s elections secure, accurate, and worthy of the confidence Idahoans place in them.

Phil McGrane

Secretary of the Secretaries

This past week, I wrapped up my year serving as Secretary of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) Executive Board during our annual summer conference in Rapid City, South Dakota. It has been an honor to represent Idaho, work alongside dedicated public servants from across the country, and share the great work being done here at home.

About Phil McGrane

Phil McGrane was elected Idaho’s twenty-eighth Secretary of State and took office on January 2, 2023. McGrane served as elected Clerk of Ada County from 2019-2022. McGrane holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy, a juris doctorate, and a Master of Public Administration. As a fourth-generation Idahoan, Phil has dedicated his career to making elections in the state of Idaho accessible, secure and transparent.

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