The security of voting systems is essential to a trustworthy election. Every state and local jurisdiction utilizes common-sense procedures and tools to safeguard the voting process. Common best practices include using locks, tamper-evident seals, security cameras, system testing before and after elections, audits, and physical and cybersecurity access controls.
This guide outlines some of the many best practices local election officials follow to secure voting systems through an election cycle. It's important to note this is a broad list of common security measures and procedures to protect the integrity of an election. The types of security measures may vary based on the voting systems in use in state and local jurisdictions.
Voting System Security Measures
Additional EAC Election Security Resources
- Election Security Voters Pamphlet
- Presenter's Guide to Election Security
- EAC Election Security Preparedness Webpage
The EAC’s election security video examines the role registration, physical security, poll workers and voting equipment play in ensuring safe, accurate, fair and accessible elections. The video also explains how the decentralized American election administration system protects election integrity and American voters, and it examines the security measures in place for vote by mail ballots, election night reporting and voting technology overall. In addition, the video highlights ballot handling measures, post-election audits used to further validate results, and the planning most jurisdictions do to ensure election continuity in the face of unexpected events or natural disasters.