Although the 2020 presidential election will look different from any other in modern history, the need to secure the vote is more important than ever. Congress has allocated hundreds of millions of dollars in security efforts since 2016, making it a united priority across federal, state and local levels. States and localities across the country continue to bolster election management systems and safeguard voter registration databases to defend from hacks, breaches, ransomware attacks, and insider threats. Key to protecting the “one person, one vote” integrity of the election process is identity management, ensuring the right people have access to the right tools, not to mention uncompromised technology and resources. And with the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to alter turnout predictions, the infrastructure to support mail-in ballots is vital to election success.
In this digital event, Route Fifty sat down with election officials nationwide to share best practices and tactics—from installing updated firewalls and performing risk assessments to implementing multi-factor authentication and cyber hygiene training—to protect the 2020 election during a time of unprecedented disruption.