1. 2022

   State activities in 2022 continued to be impacted by threats to election security and the increasing cost of administering elections. Several states reported activities to mitigate cyber and physical security threats, including making improvements to election systems infrastructure, securing virtual and physical access to systems and equipment, cybersecurity monitoring and testing, physical surveillance for election facilities and drop boxes, and security training and exercises for election officials. State spending on cyber and physical security and for maintaining and securing voter registration systems has increased 23% and 29% respectively since 2021. As of September 30, 2022, states have reported spending $498,265,605 or 56% of the Election Security funds and interest earned. The EAC’s review of state progress reports identified various themes across state activities to enhance election security and improve the administration of federal elections. Security training and exercises were common activities across states, irrespective of their relative size or population density. 22 states, including Alaska, Maine, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah and Wisconsin, used funds for election security training, including workshops and tabletop exercises in partnership with CISA as well as and state and national conferences for election officials. These trainings covered a variety of topics such as cyber hygiene, risk mitigation, information security, system monitoring, cybersecurity awareness, and incident preparedness. States continue to conduct regular security assessments of their election systems and enhance their cybersecurity infrastructure. Eighteen states reported using funds to make infrastructural improvements at both the state and the local level, including increased physical security measures, upgrades and modernization of system hardware and software, and services for risk remediation and monitoring of election systems and networks. Additionally, 11 states have used funding for dedicated security staffing, including cybersecurity and election security specialists. Several states such as Idaho, Illinois, Minnesota, and Virginia have implemented cyber navigator programs through which they employ election technology specialists to provide practical cybersecurity knowledge, training, and support services for local election officials. In 2022, over 57% of states spent funds on maintaining, securing, and upgrading their statewide voter registration systems. Voter registration activities included improvements to online voter registration processes and security, modernization and replacement of system components, implementation of multi-factor authentication, and improvements to system networks to allow local election jurisdictions to connect to the statewide voter registration system. States are continuing to upgrade and replace aging voting equipment to increase election security and improve voting processes and voter experience. Forty-three percent of states reported purchasing equipment such as new ballot tabulators, epollbooks, ballot printers, voting machines, absentee and mail-in ballot counters, and accessible ballot marking devices. The rise in threats to election security and growing distrust in the election process has resulted in a growing focus on voting and election transparency. More than a dozen states prioritized activities that increase election transparency including ballot tracking and curing resources for voters, public databases of historical election results, livestreamed ballot counts, and voter education campaigns to combat mis- and disinformation.

2. 2023

   Funds were used to maintain our connection to the Illinois Century Network for cyber security purposes and maintenance on non-voting machines. They are also used to support the efforts of the Cyber Navigator Program (CNP), which was required under Illinois law to support election authorities in their efforts to defend, detect, and recover from cyber attacks. The State Board of Elections awarded local jurisdictions funding for polling place accessibility based on the needs identified in an application and survey submitted by the individual jurisdictions. These funds are used to make permanent or temporary improvements to polling places to improve accessibility for voters.

Single Audit Applies (2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F):

For additional information on single audit requirements for this program, review the current Compliance Supplement.

1. I, 101, Help America Vote Act, P.L. 107-252. 116 Stat. 1668-1673. Pub. L. 107-252. 42 U.S.C. § 15301-15303.