#Protect2020 by Lindsey Reed
Introduction:
Misinformation can undermine public confidence in the electoral process, as well as our democracy.
Risk & Mitigation Measures:
Like all technical systems, the technology used to report unofficial vote counts could be vulnerable to malicious attacks and errors.
Security measures such as physical transport of official data, and auditing measures help manage risk and ensure integrity of election results.
It is important to keep in mind that with anything related to technology, there is risk involved. It is up to us to trust the knowledgeable professionals to keep your vote safe.
Rumor: Someone possessing or posting voter registration data means voter registration databases have been hacked.
Reality: Some voter registration data is publicly available.
#Protect2020 Strategic Plan
Defines lines of effort and objectives for achieving election security mission to secure election infrastructure ahead of the 2020 election cycle.
Vision: Secure and resilient elections trusted by all Americans.
Mission: To ensure the election community and American public have the necessary information and tools to adequately assess risks to the electoral process and protect, detect, and recover from those risks.
Quotes
“The last line of defense in election security is you, the American Voter.” –Chris Krebs, CISA Director
“The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.” –JFK
A Few Things to Do:
- Look for trusted sources of information, like the EAC
- Only share those trusted sources of information
- Discourage others from sharing sensational but unverified information
Conclusion
This has been a topic of frustration for many since the 2016 Presidential Election and as we come up on the 2020 Presidential Election, that same frustration has reared once again. I think it’s important to be knowledgeable about the process, the risks and the measures put in place to mitigate those risks. With everything we do, there is a risk of something going wrong, especially when technology is involved. Nonetheless we continue to go about using other forms of technology without a second thought. Do not let misinformation prevent you from casting your ballot.
References
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr8mSTp5t5I
https://www.cisa.gov/rumorcontrol
