During the Election Center 39th Annual National Conference in Detroit on September 9, 2024, Jen Easterly, the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), emphasized the critical importance of election security and ongoing efforts to safeguard the integrity of U.S. elections. This year’s conference, set in the vibrant city of Detroit, served as a hub for discussions aimed at strengthening the security and resilience of the nation’s electoral processes.
Leading the charge since CISA’s inception in 2018, Easterly kicked off her address with a personal touch, mentioning her team’s excitement for the conference’s location in Detroit. She humorously linked the city to her son’s name, Jet, setting a light-hearted tone before delving into the serious topic of election security.
The Election Center 39th Annual National Conference provided a platform for election officials, cybersecurity experts, and federal partners to address the evolving challenges within the electoral system. Acknowledging the substantial progress achieved in securing election infrastructure since its designation as critical infrastructure nearly eight years ago, Easterly commended the collaborative efforts across the election stakeholder community.
Easterly expressed her deep appreciation for the dedication of those involved in election security, highlighting the significant advancements made to secure election infrastructure. The conference also offered a chance to reflect on historical milestones, drawing parallels between past election security measures and current challenges. Easterly emphasized the complexities of the modern threat environment faced by election officials, ranging from cyberattacks and ransomware to physical threats against election workers from foreign adversaries like Russia, Iran, and China.
Addressing the pressing need for vigilance and preparedness in the face of persistent threats, Easterly outlined recent joint efforts with the FBI and the Justice Department to combat attempts by foreign actors to influence U.S. elections. Despite the continued threat from adversaries, she remains optimistic about prevailing through resilience and preparedness.
Key highlights from the conference included the launch of new resources aimed at enhancing election security, such as physical and cybersecurity checklists for election infrastructure stakeholders. These tools offer practical solutions for improving security and operational resilience at election infrastructure facilities, with a focus on low- or no-cost implementations.
Furthermore, discussions centered around CISA’s collaborative efforts with election officials, including physical security assessments, cyber assessments, vulnerability scanning reports, and training sessions for election stakeholders. Easterly emphasized the importance of community and collaboration in maintaining election security, urging participants to engage with their region’s election security advisor and utilize resources available on CISA’s Protect2024 website.
As the address concluded, Easterly reflected on the enduring significance of democratic processes and quoted President Ronald Reagan’s recognition of democratic rituals as a “miracle.” She expressed her gratitude and support for all those involved in safeguarding the electoral process, reaffirming her commitment to working alongside and supporting the election security community in the future.