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Protecting and Involving California Voters in our Democracy
We are just a few days away from Election Day, and now, more than ever, I want to ensure every California voter is aware of their options and makes a plan to vote. Additionally, as we prepare to cast our ballots, I want to reassure you that my office is committed to protecting the most fundamental pillar of our democracy: free and fair elections. With this in mind, it is both encouraging and essential to recognize the exhaustive and thoughtful work being carried out by my office and our state, federal, and county partners to secure our elections, safeguard voters, and empower local officials.
A Multi-Layered Approach for Election Integrity and Safety
Election security has multiple levels of protection and includes a comprehensive and collaborative approach through the California Office of Emergency Services, the Federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the State Threat Assessment Center. We formed a robust election security task force uniting physical security teams, cyber experts, intelligence professionals, and election officials.
This task force monitors and shares vital information about threats, whether cyber intrusions, disinformation campaigns, or physical intimidation at polling places. Furthermore, our office and the task force work closely with local law enforcement and the FBI’s Regional Election Crimes Coordinators, ensuring swift responses to potential criminal activity.
Empowering Counties and Building Resilience
Our registrars of voters (ROVs) are incredible. I want to emphasize how central their role is in this intricate web of election security. Counties have direct access to funding and resources to secure their voting infrastructure. We provide funding to counties from the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) grant to enable them to strengthen both their physical security and cybersecurity with my office overseeing the disbursement and implementation of these funds.
California’s elections rely on local officials and their teams to carry out the heavy lifting of administering elections across our diverse state. To this end, my office works tirelessly to equip them with the tools, training, and guidance necessary to ensure security on the frontlines.
Additionally, our election observation program sends staff from my office to monitor polling locations, particularly in areas where potential incidents may arise, ensuring they are swiftly addressed. By providing this direct support to counties, the California Secretary of State office not only strengthens local capacity, but also builds a more resilient unified electoral system statewide.
Cybersecurity: Protecting the Digital Backbone of Democracy
We have prioritized both cybersecurity, which we also refer to as digital security, and physical security for the upcoming election. We have built a digital fortress to protect our election systems against cyber threats, disinformation, and misinformation campaigns, and have embedded cybersecurity experts within California’s voting infrastructure.
All voting systems in California undergo rigorous testing, one of the strictest processes in the nation. We use paper ballots and secure, offline systems to count votes, making sure our elections are safe and easy to check for any issues.
California’s approach to election security is a model of collaboration, resilience, and transparency. The future of our elections depends on the security, transparency, and trust that we build today. In California, we are building that future one vote at a time.
Sincerely,
Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D.
California Secretary of State
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