Document: Joint Intelligence Community Statement on Election Day Preparations

On Nov. 6, 2018—Election Day—the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a joint statement, along with the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice and the FBI, affirming their agencies' continued efforts to assist state and local election officials and to combat foreign influence efforts. The statement stresses that the agencies are not aware of efforts to interfere with election infrastructure, but warns of persistent campaigns, on the part of Russia in particular, to influence public sentiment. It urges the American public to be "vigilant consumers of information" on Election Day. The full statement can be read here:

“Our agencies have been working in unprecedented ways to combat influence efforts and to support state and local officials in securing our elections, including efforts to harden election infrastructure against interference. Our goal is clear: ensure every vote is counted and counted correctly. At this time we have no indication of compromise of our nation’s election infrastructure that would prevent voting, change vote counts, or disrupt the ability to tally votes.”

“But Americans should be aware that foreign actors – and Russia in particular – continue to try to influence public sentiment and voter perceptions through actions intended to sow discord. They can do this by spreading false information about political processes and candidates, lying about their own interference activities, disseminating propaganda on social media, and through other tactics. The American public can mitigate these efforts by remaining informed, reporting suspicious activity, and being vigilant consumers of information, as discussed below.”

“The United States will not tolerate foreign interference in our elections from Russia, China, Iran, or other nations. As noted in a joint statement on October 19, 2018, such actions are a threat to our democracy, and identifying and preventing this interference is one of our highest priorities. On September 12, President Trump signed an executive order that makes clear the U.S. government will not hesitate to defend our electoral processes or punish those who attempt to undermine them.”

“Our agencies have been making preparations for nearly two years in advance of these elections and are closely engaged with officials on the ground to help them ensure the voting process is secure. Americans can rest assured that we will continue to stay focused on this mission long after polls have closed.”