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Statement

Brennan Center Letter to State Associations of Election Officials on Addressing Voting Equipment Breaches

In light of efforts to recruit election deniers as election officials and workers, the letter recommends steps election officials should take to prevent, detect, and remediate security breaches.

Published: August 12, 2022

Insider threats are not a new phenomenon in election security. But the current participation of election deniers in the election process, and active recruitment of more, has sparked an increase in breaches of the physical security of election equipment. Election officials have an affirmative obligation to implement steps to prevent and detect unauthorized access to voting systems, and if a breach does occur, to take remedial action to address any harm that the breach may cause.

This letter recommends steps that election officials can take to prevent unauthorized access to voting systems, respond to any breach that occurs, and maintain public confidence in future elections.