CISA Releases Physical Security Checklist to Help Election Officials Secure Polling Locations

WASHINGTON – Today, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released the Physical Security Checklist for Polling Locations, a new tool designed to bolster security preparedness for the frontline of U.S. elections.

The checklist, part of CISA’s suite of election security resources, is tailored to empower election workers with actionable and accessible security measures for locations serving as temporary election facilities.

“Protecting against physical threats to election locations like polling places where Americans cast their vote is one of the most significant responsibilities election officials bear. CISA is committed to doing anything we can to support this mission,” said CISA Senior Advisor Cait Conley. “The people who run elections and those who volunteer to work at polling places are heroes, and CISA is proud to support them, including with critical threat awareness and planning tools such as this checklist. While no measure can eliminate all risk, these resources empower officials to understand, mitigate, and address security challenges proactively.”

The resource is designed for simplicity, requiring no prior security expertise for implementation. It covers pre-planning and Election Day procedures and is adaptable to individual facility needs and resources. Through a series of yes or no questions, election workers and volunteers can assess potential security threats and incidents, aiding in the establishment and improvement of physical security measures.

The Physical Security Checklist for Polling Locations is one of a collection of resources CISA has developed to support the physical security of election infrastructure.  The agency has Protective Security Advisors serving all 50 states, District of Columbia, and territories who support state and local election officials through sharing information, conducting physical security assessments of election facilities, and offering no-cost services and trainings on areas like de-escalation techniques, responding to active shooter situations, and other physical threat specific offerings to address the evolving threats facing election officials.

For more information, or to access the checklist, visit Physical Security Checklist for Polling Locations.