As voters throughout the country prepare to head for the polls for the midterm elections in November, election security may be on their minds.
The issue also is on the minds of the organizers of the George M. Ewing Canandaigua Forum speaker series, which opens its 15th season on Sept. 20 with a deep dive into how election systems are protected, how threats are detected and what measures are in place to maintain public confidence in the democratic process.
New York State Board of Elections representatives Ben Spear and Kathleen McGrath will talk about election security in “Protecting Your Ballot: Election Security Ahead of the 2026 Midterms." The event will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, at the Fort Hill Performing Arts Center, 20 Fort Hill Ave.,
Canandaigua.
Spear is chief information security officer for the state Board of Elections and has years of hands-on experience defending election infrastructure at both the state and national levels.
McGrath is the director of public information for the state Board of Elections. As the agency’s chief communications officer, she serves as its primary spokesperson, leading public information efforts on election administration, voter education, election security and campaign finance.
The talk will be moderated by Evan Dawson, host of WXXI's Connections.
What other speakers are coming to Canandaigua?
Looking ahead, subsequent high-profile speakers will share insights in hot topics in the healthcare, cybersecurity and the arts and entertainment business.
"Facing Parkinson's: New Science, New Strategies, Real Lives" will be held Oct. 11. Dr. Ray Dorsey and Dr. Sarah Whittingham will lead the discussion, which will be moderated by Maggie Kuhl of the Michael J. Fox Foundation. They will explore emerging Parkinson's disease research alongside the lived experience of patients and families.
"Defending the Digital Frontier: Understanding Today's Cyber Risks and Tomorrow's Solutions" will be held March 7, 2027. Gen. Tim Haugh, former director of the National Security Agency and commander of U.S. Cyber Command, is the guest speaker. The discussion will be moderated by Canandaigua native Michael O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institution.
"Scenes from a Storied Career: An Entertaining Conversation with Tom Fontana" features the Emmy Award-winning writer, playwright and producer. Fontana's talk on April 18, 2027, will be moderated by journalist, author and Canandaigua native Michael Winship. Fontana, a Buffalo native, will share stories and insights from a television career that includes "St. Elsewhere," "Homicide: Life on the Street" and "Oz."
Canandaigua Forum ticket information
All events will be held at the Fort Hill Performing Arts Center, 20 Fort Hill Ave., Canandaigua.
Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at gmeforum.org or by calling the FHPAC box office at 585-412-6043.
More about the Canandaigua Forum
The George M. Ewing Canandaigua Forum is dedicated to enriching civic and cultural life in the Finger Lakes region by presenting distinguished speakers and fostering thoughtful dialogue on issues that shape our world.
Mike Murphy covers Canandaigua and other communities in Ontario County and writes the Eat, Drink and Be Murphy food and drink column. He can be reached at mmurphy@messengerpostmedia.com. Follow him on X at @MPN_MikeMurphy.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Experts discuss election security in Canandaigua
