State voting officials join CISA security call with election 85 days away

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) convened a conference call with state election officials to address the upcoming midterm elections, occurring 85 days after Election Day. Despite President Trump's claims regarding potential cyber threats to voting systems, this marked one of CISA's initial broad outreach efforts to election officials, as Election Day is approaching rapidly.

CISA officials, including acting director Nick Andersen and head of integrated operations Jim Harrell, led the discussion with the National Association of Secretaries of State. CISA committed to offering physical and cybersecurity assessments upon request, as well as discussing workflow and recommendations for election officials to collaborate with regional directors.

The officials acknowledged the presence of foreign actors attempting to influence elections but refrained from providing specific details. Additionally, the conversation touched on voter registration systems, a subject of interest due to the president's recent comments. Several state election officials voiced concerns during the call, questioning CISA's commitment given the administration's recent threats against election officials.

They also inquired about specific assistance, such as tabletop exercises, penetration testing, and intelligence briefings, expressing uncertainty about the agency's ability to provide support in time for the November elections.