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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsElection security is a set of safeguards across the full process—not a single checklist or machine. Use checklists to spot gaps, assign improvements and prepare for incidents, then adapt them to your jurisdiction’s systems, procedures and applicable rules. No checklist can guarantee security.
What an election security checklist can—and cannot—do
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) describes the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) readiness checklists as questions that help election officials prepare for possible physical and cyber incidents, identify areas for improvement and take short-term action. They are practical assessment tools, not universal regulatory requirements or proof that an election is secure. The EAC’s election readiness page links to CISA checklists dated September 9, 2024.
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There is no single universal checklist in the resources covered here. Select guidance by its scope, intended audience, actionability, recency and fit with local procedures. Use it alongside state law, local policy, procurement terms and existing incident-response plans—not in place of them.
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What election security covers
Security extends from voter registration through results certification. A useful assessment connects technology, people, facilities and procedures across the lifecycle rather than treating voting machines as the whole problem.
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- Systems: voting equipment, voter-registration databases, election-night reporting systems, electronic pollbooks and other technology used by election offices.
- Facilities and materials: offices, storage areas, equipment and physical election materials.
- People and operations: staff access, handling and transfer procedures, testing, audits and incident response.
- Communications: official email, public information and coordination among election offices and supporting partners.
The EAC notes that security measures can vary with state and local voting systems. Its election security resources include guidance for different systems and situations.
Core areas to include in a readiness review
Cybersecurity: protect accounts, email and data
Begin with access to accounts and the integrity and recovery of important data. NIST warns that stolen credentials can provide access to election systems and describes multifactor authentication (MFA) as a powerful way to prevent many such attacks. Its Election Security Guides also address ransomware and other destructive attacks that can disrupt critical systems.
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- Check whether MFA is enabled for relevant accounts and systems, and identify any exceptions that need compensating safeguards.
- Review protections against impersonation of official email and establish how staff should verify unusual requests.
- Know which data and systems are essential, how their integrity is checked, and how they can be recovered after disruption.
These are assessment prompts, not a claim that one technical setup fits every jurisdiction. Base the details on the systems in use and applicable local procedures.
Physical security: manage access to places and equipment
Review who can enter facilities and reach equipment or materials, how access is controlled, and how unusual activity is detected. The EAC identifies measures such as locks, cameras, access controls and tamper-evident seals among common physical safeguards. These controls work as layers; none alone establishes that an item or facility has remained secure.
Chain of custody: document handling and access
For physical election materials and systems, procedures should document handling, transfer, storage and access. Records make it possible to account for who had access and when, and to identify gaps for follow-up. The EAC’s clearinghouse resources include dedicated chain-of-custody guidance. If seals are used, treat them as support for documented access and handling—not a replacement for those records.
Testing, audits and verification
The EAC lists testing before and after elections and audits among common security practices. The specific methods and procedures differ by jurisdiction; a checklist should prompt officials to confirm what applies locally, who is responsible and how results or exceptions are documented. It should not imply that every jurisdiction uses the same audit or testing method.
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Incident readiness: make response usable
Readiness means knowing how to report a suspected incident, who makes operational decisions, how staff communicate, and when to coordinate with law enforcement and other partners. Check whether response roles and contact paths are current and whether communications plans account for disruption to ordinary systems.
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People and cross-sector coordination
Election offices do not prepare alone. Election officials, IT teams, law enforcement, election technology providers, emergency managers, public-information staff and government partners may all have a role. CIS and the EI-ISAC’s Election Ready: A Cross-Sector Preparedness Guide, published October 5, 2026, provides readiness checklists for these groups. Its overview can be modified to match jurisdiction-specific processes.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose and apply guidance
- Define the system or process. Identify whether the review concerns the full election lifecycle, a particular technology, physical security, cybersecurity or incident response.
- Match the resource to its audience. A checklist for election offices may not answer the needs of IT staff, law enforcement or voters. Use partner-focused material where responsibilities cross organizations.
- Check the date and purpose. The EAC links CISA checklists dated September 9, 2024; NIST’s election-security guide page says it was updated June 3, 2024; and the CIS/EI-ISAC cross-sector guide was published October 5, 2026. Confirm that the guidance remains current before applying it.
- Translate prompts into local actions. For each relevant question, identify the responsible role, the existing procedure and any gap requiring follow-up. Adapt recommendations to actual systems and processes.
- Reconcile with governing requirements. Confirm that proposed actions fit state and local rules, policies, contracts and incident-response plans.
For current local procedures, consult your state or local election office. The EAC’s election security page and readiness page provide starting points for official resources; NIST and CIS/EI-ISAC offer additional guidance for cybersecurity and cross-sector preparation.
Answering the question: how do I know my vote is safe?
No single checklist can establish that every risk has been eliminated. A more useful answer is that election security depends on layered safeguards, documented processes, testing and verification, and people who know how to respond. Which safeguards apply—and how they are carried out—varies by jurisdiction and its systems. For information about the procedures where you vote, ask your state or local election office.
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