Election Center is proud to share that the McCain Institute has chosen Board Member Tonya Wichman as part of the 2026 cohort of its American Democracy & Technology Fellowship. 

This prestigious recognition underscores her strong commitment to strengthening, modernizing, and securing elections. Wichman — who is the Director of Elections for Defiance County, Ohio — has led major initiatives over the course of her more than a decade of experience, including implementation of new voting equipment, the transition to electronic poll books, and significant expansions in cyber and physical security.

“Tonya Wichman’s deep leadership in the field will represent what Election Center members experience in their daily jobs and contribute to a stronger understanding of the critical work of election officials in American democracy,” said Kathleen Hale, Executive Director of Election Center.

Each year, the McCain Institute selects a new cohort of US-based fellows to advance thought leadership and policy advocacy, helping transform democracy and technology in the United States. Each fellow executes a project to identify and apply emerging research and technological innovations to promote democracy and protect rights in the face of technological challenges, AI, challenges to information integrity, and efforts to undermine American democratic norms and institutions, all threats to American national security.