Election Security Spotlight — Prep for Election Disruptions

What It Is

In preparing for a general election, election officials must recognize the changing environment and have a plan for any election disruptions that may occur. Potential election disruptions include swatting, doxxing, bomb threats, white powder substances in envelopes, and large gatherings outside of election facilities.

The likelihood of these types of incidents increases whenever we get closer to Election Day and post-election activities, including final vote tabulation, recounting, auditing, election result certification, meetings of the Electoral College in each state, Congressional proceedings to declare winners, and the inauguration.

Why It Matters

As election officials, our main priority is to protect the integrity of an election while keeping everyone safe in the process. Election disruptions such as swatting and bomb threats can happen at polling locations, local and state election offices, ballot counting sites, and certification venues. Further, bomb threats or swatting attacks can also occur in multiple locations at the same time. Maintaining order to the extent possible during an election disruption is critical to protecting the integrity of an election.

What You Can Do

Here are a few last-minute tips to help you better prepare for and respond to any disruptions:

• Educate your staff and poll workers about the possibility of election disruptions.
• Connect with your local law enforcement. Exchange contact information, and provide them with a list of all polling locations as well as applicable election offices, ballot counting sites, and certification venues.
• Reach out to whomever is responsible for building security for your election office to review physical security measures already in place and to identify areas needing improvement.
• Create a list of emergency contact numbers for use by staff, poll workers, and local law enforcement. Share this list with your team in both physical and digital formats
• Ensure that anyone responsible for processing the mail is aware of the potential for white powder in envelopes and knows how to handle the situation. If mail is not processed in your office, be sure to educate those in the central mail location within your jurisdiction.
• Be mindful of personal information that is posted on social media sites or readily available online.

In preparing for future elections, please refer to the comprehensive guides listed below. You can also use the following resources to guide your preparations for election disruptions.

• Center for Internet Security
  • Preparing for Election Day Disruptions
  • Guide for Collaborative Discussions on Election Disruption Preparedness
  • Managing Your Online Presence
• The Committee for Safe and Secure Elections
  • Resources for election and law enforcement officials
• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
  • The Last Mile Election Security Toolkit
  • Enhancing Election Security Through Public Communications
  • Micro Training Videos (MTVs)
  • Election Mail Handling Procedures to Protect Against Hazardous Materials
• Election Assistance Commission (EAC)
  • Continuity of Operations Plan Template

Please contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions.