Staffers at the nation’s cybersecurity agency whose job is to ensure the security of U.S. elections have been placed on administrative leave, jeopardizing critical support provided to state and local election offices across the country.

A group of state election officials is urging the nation’s cybersecurity agency to revise a draft rule that would require election offices to disclose suspected cyberattacks to the federal government, casting the mandate as too burdensome on overworked local officials.

Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams still doesn't have a clear path for reelection despite winning bipartisan praise during his first term in office and expanding voter access during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has filed for reelection next year.

The groups argued in a federal lawsuit that state election laws requiring photo IDs and limiting absentee voting put people at greater risk of exposure to the virus. Kentucky is one of many states where fights over absentee voting have emerged amid debate over how fast to reopen. Andy Beshear has opened Kentuckys primary election to widespread mail-in absentee voting, relaxing election procedures to try to protect people amid the coronavirus outbreak. The suit challenges another part of state election law regarding absentee voting. It claims the narrow allowances for absentee voting will force most Kentuckians to go to polling places in November, jeopardizing their health.