DHS Has Secured the Nation's Election Systems, but Work Remains to Protect the Infrastructure

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has improved coordination efforts to secure the Nation’s systems used for voting, but should take additional steps to protect the broader election infrastructure, which includes polling and voting locations and related storage facilities, among other things. For example, CISA has developed or updated a set of plans and guidance aimed at securing election systems for the 2020 election cycle. However, these documents do not sufficiently factor in risks associated with physical security, terrorism threats, and targeted violence to the election infrastructure. CISA can also improve the quality of information shared, as well as the timeliness of its assistance to election stakeholders. With the 2020 elections at hand and increased potential for revised election processes due to the COVID 19 pandemic, it is critical that CISA institute a well-coordinated approach and provide the guidance and assistance necessary to secure the Nation’s election infrastructure. We made three recommendations to CISA to address the deficiencies we identified. CISA concurred with all three recommendations.