By Marilyn Odendahl
The Indiana Citizen
July 23, 2026
Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales was among nearly two dozen state officials from around the country who gathered recently for the National Association of Secretaries of State conference, where Votebeat reported many expressed concern about the Trump administration seeming to reduce its role in helping states protect their elections.
The event, held July 14-17 in South Dakota, brought together 26 secretaries of state, senior staff and private-sector partners to talk about a variety of topics, including election administration. Discussions and presentations about elections comprised a significant part of the conference with some secretaries of state showcasing initiatives they have created to improve the voting process.
Morales was not listed on the conference’s agenda as making any presentation, but in a press release, Morales’ office said he participated in discussions about strengthening election security and administration, enhancing cybersecurity and improving services for Indiana businesses. Also, he shared the state’s work to safeguard elections and provide efficient and secure services to Hoosiers and businesses.
“It is always valuable to come together with my fellow secretaries of state from across the country to exchange ideas and discuss how we can better serve the people of our respective states,” Morales said.
Votebeat attended the NASS summer conference and described it as “a weird one.” In particular, federal officials who have been fixtures at these meetings were not in attendance. Representatives from the federal agencies that partner with states, such as the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, U.S. Election Assistance Commission, FBI and U.S. Department of Justice, usually participate in panel discussions about voting machines and best practices for election administration, and provide briefings about potential election security threats, according to Votebeat.
Leslie Reynolds, NASS senior advisor, told Votebeat that federal officials were not invited because the focus during the summer conference was on state issues. The winter conference features more “outside speakers,” including individuals from federal agencies.
However, Votebeat reported that state officials said the decline in cooperation from the Trump administration has left them “trying to replace pieces of the federal-security apparatus that, in some cases, can’t be replaced.”
Some secretaries of state did offer PowerPoint presentations about election security programs in their states. Among the discussions were West Virginia’s use of local excise tax dollars to fund election infrastructure and security, Washington state’s cybersecurity and physical security preparation for the 2026 elections, and Michigan’s development of a secure online portal to enable military members stationed overseas to receive, mark and return their absentee ballots.
During the conference, President Donald Trump gave his primetime address about elections, which was not carried by all television networks and has been described as a rehashing of past claims. Votebeat reported that while Trump’s July 16 speech was being aired on television, many state officials were enjoying dinner and a tour of Mount Rushmore. Votebeat identified Morales as among the secretaries of state who said they would watch the speech later.
The press release from Morales office highlighted his visit to the national monument during what is likely his last NASS conference. Morales will not be running for reelection this November after losing his bid for the Republican nomination to Max Engling. Also in the race for secretary of state is Democrat Beau Bayh, Libertarian Lauri Shilling and former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, who announced Wednesday he is officially on the ballot as an independent running under the Lincoln Party banner.
“This year’s conference was especially meaningful as we had the opportunity to visit Mount Rushmore and celebrate America’s 250th birthday together,” Morales said in the press release. “As a proud American and naturalized citizen, I am grateful every day to live in the most exceptional country, and I remain committed to serving Hoosiers and protecting the values that make our nation great.”
Dwight Adams, an editor and writer based in Indianapolis, edited this article. He is a former content editor, copy editor and digital producer at The Indianapolis Star and IndyStar.com, and worked as a planner for other newspapers, including the Louisville Courier Journal.
The Indiana Citizen is a nonpartisan, nonprofit platform dedicated to increasing the number of informed and engaged Hoosier citizens. We are operated by the Indiana Citizen Education Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity. For questions about the story, contact Marilyn Odendahl at marilyn.odendahl@indianacitizen.org
