In an age of mis-, dis-, and mal-information, election officials need the public to believe they’re doing all this securely, because election integrity isn’t just about accurately counting votes.
Secure, trusted elections are critical to our democracy. Ensuring this security means protecting ballots and voting machines on election day and preventing disinformation leading up to the use of those machines.
In the aftermath of major cyberattacks that threatened critical infrastructure and national security, President Biden signed an executive order Wednesday that aims to strengthen cyber defenses through increased information sharing with private industry.
Responsible for carrying out the election were not just poll workers and election officials, but thousands of IT staffers around the country who defended against cyberattacks.
Maintaining election integrity isn’t easy, but it’s work that could change the outcome of this election and the future of our governmental institutions.
“To ensure the security and integrity of our elections, the focus must be on the IT infrastructure that supports and runs our democracy, rather than exclusively on voting machines themselves.”