National Guard in Iowa: What’s Happening

What’s happening

Iowa’s election security team — which includes the Iowa National Guard — gathered at the State Emergency Operations Center on October 28 to describe the layers protecting the 2026 election.

“The Iowa National Guard is proud to continue its partnership with the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office to ensure the integrity of the 2026 midterm elections,” said Captain Benjamin Aslesen of the 168th Cyberspace Operations Squadron. “The Joint Task Force – Cyber stands ready to leverage its expertise to safeguard the electoral process.” The partnership dates to 2017.

“Our Guardsmen have supported multiple election cycles and regularly train in national exercises to stay ahead of emerging digital threats,” said Brigadier General Mark Kappelman. The state’s Security Operations Center provides round-the-clock cyberthreat monitoring during the election.

The threat this responds to

Election computer systems — voter registration databases, results reporting, county networks — are standing targets for foreign hacking and disruption attempts. Iowa’s Guard mission is defensive: watch the networks, catch intrusions early, and keep the count’s infrastructure running.

What it means if you vote in Iowa

Iowa’s Guard role is entirely behind the scenes, on computer networks. The Guard has no role at Iowa polling places or with ballots, and nothing about voting in person or by mail has changed.

Timeline

• Oct 28, 2026Iowa’s election security team, including the Guard’s Joint Task Force Cyber, briefs from the State Emergency Operations Center.

Reports

• Iowa Secretary of State — Iowa’s elections are safe and secure