News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
DeKalb County Election Administrator Dennis Stanley said he will be in semi-retirement when he steps down from his position.
Stanley said it was time to leave this job after 14 years and he does want to slow down and spend more time with his wife and family. He said there is one thing he wants to make clear as he leaves office.
“I think Tennessee elections are very secure,” Stanley said. “But again all of us in the industry have fought in recent years in particular misinformation, it is always very important for those who have questions to contact their local election office to get the right answer.”
Stanley said that despite all the national attention from the last two presidential elections Tennessee has some of the better election laws in the country. He said Tennessee was recently voted by an organization as number one in election integrity.
Stanley said he thinks that Tennessee does a very good job of making sure elections are secure and fair. He said the key to a good election is the election workers.
“It was challenging near the end to make sure you have enough election workers,” Stanley said. “So many people today have other jobs or some people just don’t want to work. Good people who want to serve really make the elections go.”
Stanley said his biggest challenges were fighting misinformation and making sure things are up to date on cyber security. He said his successor will be hit with immediate challenges.
“Be on the alert, be ever vigilant, and also have plenty of energy because the 2024 election cycle is about to hit, and you’re going to be busy for a while,” Stanley said.
