The Aspen Institute

Join Joseph Nye, one of the world's leading scholars of international relations, for a conversation about his newly released publication Do Morals Matter? Presidents and Foreign Policy from FDR to Trump.

Two horrible events, the COVID-19 pandemic and the killing of George Floyd, have shaken the world, raising consciousness about social, economic, and political problems that had been festering for generations. They could also inspire us to solve a relatively new problem with huge implications for democracy’s future: the growing role of surveillance in our lives.

Elections are often regarded as a reflection of the strength and qualities of a country’s democracy. The 2016 election revealed deep flaws in the U.S. voting process. Election security was a national security concern in the 2020 election cycle even before the global COVID-19 pandemic put the logistics of holding an election into question. What is the status of the critical infrastructure that underpins fair and open voting? Can we ensure a voting process that upholds confidence in American democracy? How can the federal agencies work with the state and local election entities to create safe voting practices that maintain confidence in the voting process? In the midst of these questions of protecting against fraud, misinformation also poses a risk to undermining the democratic process. In a moment of turbulence and distrust, can America have an election that is secure?