A Message to Election Officials from CISA Director Jen Easterly
We’re just a few weeks out from the 2024 general election, when citizens across the United States will make their voices heard by casting ballots for the candidates of their choice.
Free and fair elections are a hallmark of American democracy. At CISA, we are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with you all, the state and local election officials who are on the frontlines of administering and securing our nation’s elections. And as we know, while elections may be political, election security is not. In this job, I have had the privilege to witness firsthand your tireless efforts to ensure that our nation’s election infrastructure is as secure and resilient as ever. And so today, I have a message for all our election officials across the country: thank you and keep up the amazing work.
I know it’s not easy. You all are operating in a threat environment that is more complex than ever before. From cybercriminals targeting office networks, to foreign adversaries seeking to undermine public confidence in our democratic institutions, to extreme weather conditions that will cause disruptions to election administration. All of these things you are asked to take on—to prepare for and defend against—in order to secure a resilient democratic process. We also recognize that this is being asked of you while many of you are experiencing harassment and threats—threats that are outrageous and unacceptable.
But please never forget you are not in this alone—your teammates here at CISA and across the federal government stand ready to support you in this no-fail mission of defending American democracy.
We know you have heeded the call to serve our nation. Not for glory or financial reward but because it is the right thing to do for our national security. And it will be because of your leadership, your dedication, your professionalism, your belief in the foundation of our democracy, and the trust that each of you have created in your communities as public servants, that the American people can have confidence in the outcome in November. Thank you for all that you do and for being the real American heroes.