CISA Advisors Brief King County Citizens Committee on Election Security

The last time the King County Citizens Elections Oversight Committee met in person was in 2019, just before a world pandemic would alter the course of how and when groups met to conduct business. 

A lot has changed since their last in-person gathering. When they reconvened in person recently, one of the first items on the agenda of the committee, charged with maintaining public confidence in King County elections, was a briefing from CISA on election security.

Washington State Cybersecurity Coordinator Ian Moore and Election Security Advisor Lori Augino met recently with the 16-member committee and key King County Elections staff to share the latest information on CISA’s work on election security.

An important new addition has been added to the work of CISA, since the committee last gathered and that is the enhanced role CISA will play to help election officials and election infrastructure stakeholders protect against the cyber, physical, and operational security risks to election infrastructure during the 2024 election cycle.

From assessing the current threat landscape related to election infrastructure, processes, and personnel, to offering simple steps election officials can take to enhance their organization’s security baseline for the 2024 election cycle, Augino and Moore had an interested audience.

“It’s so important they know we are here to support them and their efforts,” said Augino, who’s worked in elections for more than 25 years. “Building this partnership with our county and state election officials will only bolster our ability to ensure a safe and secure election process.”

Focusing on the new Protect 2024 campaign from CISA, Augino shared important elements of the program including how to protect against threats including physical threats and risks associated with handling mail.

Cybersecurity Advisor Moore focused on the variety of CISA tools at the disposal of election staff. Moore offered opportunities for CISA training on securing election offices, ransomware, non-confrontational techniques, and tabletop exercises that put participants in real-world threat/problem situations to learn how to handle them.

“We’re doing everything we can to ensure the integrity of the election and protect election employees in the process,” Moore added.

CISA is working closely with the Washington State Secretary of State’s office on election security, and CISA teams have worked alongside of nearly every county election office in Washington. Additionally, CISA teams are conducting the same level of work in Idaho, Oregon, and Alaska.

For the Citizens committee, the CISA briefing was important.

“Having CISA help us understand new trends and emerging threats is an incredible resource as we work to uphold the integrity of our democracy,” said Citizens Committee, Chair Eliseo Juárez. “CISA's partnership with our local elections administrators and our oversight body is one more tool upon which we can rely in our shared goal of protecting free and fair elections.”

Officials from King County elections, which serves the metropolitan area near and around Seattle, echoed those thoughts.

“King County Elections is grateful for our partnership with CISA as we work together to ensure safe and secure elections,” said Julie Wise, King County Elections Director. “Threats to the security of elections – both physical and cyber – are, unfortunately, at the forefront of my mind. CISA’s resources – from physical site reviews and Active Assailant training to insights into ways we can know and manage our cyber vulnerabilities - are crucial to the work my team and I do administering accessible, secure, and accurate elections to King County voters.”