The feds cut funding for election cybersecurity. How will public officials adapt?

Election officials frequently face all manner of cybersecurity threats. Cyber attackers may try to breach voter registration databases and steal information, take down websites that help voters find polls, spoof official websites and more. Just this November, Utah Lt. Gov Deidre Henderson issued a warning about AI-generated fake election results circulating online.

Across the country, public officials have often turned to trusted federally supported resources for help managing these dangers. The nonprofit Center for Internet Security (CIS) has traditionally provided no-cost and low-cost cybersecurity services and intelligence to state and local governments, in particular through its Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC). For decades, the MS-ISAC has helped states defend against and respond to cyber attacks. States and localities that are ISAC members receive threat intelligence as well as one-on-one consultations with cybersecurity experts, some cybersecurity tools and a 24/7 security operations center.

In 2018, CIS launched another resource, the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC) to provide states and localities with election-specific intelligence and security training. The EI-ISAC helps officials prepare against and respond to cybersecurity threats as well as physical threats like swatting, bomb threats and white powder mailing. Federal funding and a cooperative agreement with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have allowed the ISACs to provide these services for free or low cost.

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