Now not the time to be without election administrator

On the heels of the most recent presidential election, we learned of the importance of the security of Wisconsin’s voter database. Russian hackers tried, unsuccessfully according to the Department of Homeland Security, to access a Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development website in 2016. Clearly, there is a potential for havoc at the voting booths on election day. But Wisconsin is currently without a state elections adminstrator. Current commissioner Michael Haas is on his way out after the state Senate voted earlier this year to reject his confirmation in a political power struggle. Republicans are upset that Haas did work for the former Government Accountability Board which launched an investigation into Governor Scott Walker years ago. So now, Haas is giving up his fight to keep his job and plans to step down. This comes at a bad time. Elections are approaching, and Haas is the only member of the Election Commission with clearance through Homeland Security which provides him access to classified information. And the next elections are coming soon. It is unfortunate, and dangerous, that our lawmakers have put politics over election security at a time when we are possibly exposed to Russian hackers who want to influence the outcome of our elections.