Presenter’s Guide to Election Security 1

Presenter’s Guide to 

Election Security

Introduction

Since the 2016 election, voters have had heightened concerns about election 

security. While this topic has always been a key priority for election officials, 

most of the public does not realize the many steps election administrators have 

in place to keep elections secure, accurate and accessible. The U.S. Election 

Assistance Commission (EAC) has prepared the following video and resources to 

help election administrators discuss this important topic with a broad spectrum 

of audiences. 

This guidebook complements the EAC’s election security video and contains the 

following resources that provide a concise and accessible, yet comprehensive, 

overview of election security that officials can offer voters:

• Election Security Presentation Script 

• Voter Handout

• Frequently Asked Questions

• Other EAC Voter Materials About Election Security 

While no two jurisdictions’ approaches to election security are exactly the same, 

each jurisdiction’s approach is designed to ensure information security, physical 

security, cybersecurity and continuity of operations in the event of a disaster. 

This EAC’s election security video and its accompanying materials are intended 

to inform voters of the broad concepts behind and multi-layered approach to 

ensuring election security.
Presenter’s Guide to Election Security 2

Description of Video

The EAC’s 5-minute long election security video is intended to educate American voters about the steps election administrators take to protect elections. The 

product was envisioned to be used as part of election administration outreach 

to civic groups or an overview to election workers about election security before 

jurisdiction-specific training. 

The 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. 
Presenter’s Guide to Election Security 3

Presentation Script Prior to playing video

Since the 2016 federal election, voters have had lingering questions about the 

accuracy and integrity of American elections and what election officials are doing 

to increase election security. 

Such questions are fair and indicative of an engaged electorate who want to protect the fundamental bedrock of American democracy: the right to vote. 

While significant strides have been made since the last presidential election, election security has long been a priority for election officials. In fact, layers of security are built into the election process. From chain of custody and access control to 

system access logs and result auditing, election officials work diligently to secure 

each part of the process.

Election administrators are aware of threats to election systems and do not take 

them lightly. In response, officials are constantly adapting processes to address 

new and emerging threats.

While those seeking to undermine Americans’ faith in our election system are 

persistent in their attempts and creative in their approach, election officials are 

up to the task of protecting your vote. We understand the need for a resilient and 

secure election system, as well as our obligation to keep the voting process itself 

accessible, accurate and transparent. 

This brief video from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission provides a broad 

overview of the election security measures in place to maintain the integrity and 

accessibility of elections.
Presenter’s Guide to Election Security 4

Election Security Pamphlet

The Election Security Pamphlet summarizes security measures used at all phases 

of the election process and is intended to be used as a take-home material for 

voters. The pamphlet can also be used as a handout or reference for election 

officials who do not have the time or A/V capabilities to show the video, but want 

to inform voters of the same concepts. It is visually consistent with the election 

security video to help voters recall information they learned. 

Making the Election Security Pamphlet

1. Print on 11x17 tabloid size paper.

2. Fold pages of pamphlet as shown above.
Presenter’s Guide to Election Security 5

Frequently Asked Questions

After watching the EAC video, voters are likely to have jurisdiction-specific 

questions. It is important for presenters to know what they are authorized to say 

about state and local election security in order to respond to such questions. 

In addition to jurisdiction-specific questions, voters may have more general 

questions about security and the election process. Here are some questions that 

may arise, as well as suggested answers. 

How is my personal information protected during the election process?

There are many layers of security in place to protect voters’ personal information. 

Only authorized personnel have access to the voter registration database. 

Database traffic is monitored for irregularities, such as multiple log-in attempts or 

above average traffic. Response and mitigation plans are also in place to ensure 

continuity should unauthorized access or irregular activity be detected.

When the database is accessed or changed, details from that session are logged. 

Routine backups ensure data can be restored if any unexpected modifications 

are made. Also, even though data are public record, personal information is only 

released in accordance with a state’s legal guidelines. 

Why is voter registration necessary for election security? 

Voter registration ensures that only those meeting state eligibility requirements 

are able to vote. Voter registration also keeps track of who has cast a ballot in an 

election.

If a voter believes they are eligible and registered to vote but do not appear on 

the registration list or does not have the required form of ID, that voter can cast a 

provisional ballot. 

What goes into physical security?

Voting equipment is sealed and observed throughout the election process by 

approved election observers. Ballots are kept in safes, vaults, and other secure 

areas maintained by a clerk’s office, which is often within a secure facility. 

Completed ballots are transported to local election headquarters in sealed, 

secure containers and typically, only a limited number of people can access 

ballots. 

How is by mail voting kept secure?

Signature requirements for mailed ballots allow election officials to verify a 

mailed ballot has been filled out by the correct voter. Signatures on file are 

compared with those on the envelope containing mailed ballots. Measures are 

in place to ensure ballots are as private as those completed at a polling booth. 

Mailed ballots are typically delivered to and picked up from the post office by 

two election office staff and transported in a secure container. These ballots are 

also processed by teams of election staff to ensure the integrity of the counting 

process. 
Presenter’s Guide to Election Security 6

Frequently Asked Questions continued

How do election workers ensure the security of elections? 

Poll workers, elections staff, and election observers go through quality training 

to ensure everyone understands their role in the process and the standard 

operating procedures that govern various election tasks and activities. Training 

typically covers issues such as physical security and appropriate cybersecurity 

hygiene.

There are often multiple people involved in key elections activities, so no one 

person could compromise important election tasks or the overall results. 

How do I know election security procedures are being followed?

Transparency is a critical part of election security. Almost all processes and

procedures require two or more trained personnel be involved, and these 

election workers have taken an oath to uphold state election laws and protect 

election security. Representatives of political parties or candidates, and 

sometimes even members of the general public, are also allowed to observe and 

monitor activities throughout the election processes.

What if a disaster happens that calls the accuracy of an election into question?

Most election jurisdictions have emergency contingency plans to ensure voters 

can still cast their ballots and the outcome of the election will be accurate and 

fair, even in the event of an emergency. The Election Assistance Commission 

provides election worker cyber hygiene training, checklists, best practice 

recommendations and other resources to help state and local election systems 

remain secure, even in the event of an emergency. Election officials have 

emergency plans for emergencies ranging from natural disasters and power loss, 

to election system breaches and attacks on polling places. 

How are election results verified? 

Voting equipment is given logic and accuracy tests against a known set of 

marked ballots to ensure tabulators are counting ballots correctly. Post-election 

audits also ensure votes are counted correctly and procedures associated with 

transporting and securing ballots were followed throughout the election process. 

On election night, there are multiple sources of election results. Election data are 

reported by local jurisdictions, typically precinct by precinct, and these data are 

then uploaded to the state’s election reporting system. This distributed system 

provides an archive of the results. If there is a problem with the reporting system, 

these archived copies can be used as a backup.

After Election Day, each election jurisdiction engages in a canvassing process, 

where the entire election is reconciled. This canvass ensures that the number of 

voters recorded as having voted coincides with the number of ballots cast. 
Presenter’s Guide to Election Security 7

Frequently Asked Questions continued

What standards are voting equipment held to?

Almost all states use the requirements stated in the Election Assistance 

Commission’s Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG) to evaluate voting 

systems. The VVSG contains more than 1,000 security, software, hardware, 

functionality, usability and accessibility requirements. These guidelines are 

continually updated as security concerns evolve. 

Do all jurisdictions follow these guidelines? 

This video was meant to serve as a very general overview of election security. No 

two jurisdiction’s approach to election security is exactly the same. 

[Prepare a brief description of how your jurisdiction’s security measures differ 

from the methods shown in the video] 

Other EAC Voter Materials About Elections

• A Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections

• 10 Tips for Voters 

• American Elections: Understanding Cybersecurity

• Other information available at www.eac.gov.