Providence (AP) — Rhode Island's secretary of state has been named to the executive committee of a national elections security group.

Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea was elected by her peers to serve on the executive committee of the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center.

The center is funded by the Department of Homeland Security to protect the nation's voting infrastructure.

Gorbea, a Democrat, says the security of elections is fundamental to democracy, and she looks forward to continuing to evolve and improve voting security systems.

As an executive committee member, Gorbea will help advise the center's director, review and approve priority objectives, recommend new initiatives and guide the strategic direction of the organization.

She joins the executive committee on Wednesday.