During a media briefing held on Tuesday evening, CISA Director Jen Easterly commended the security and resilience of the 2024 U.S. presidential election as “a good news story for democracy.” This briefing, attended by TechTarget Editorial, was the final of four briefings conducted by the U.S. cybersecurity agency on Election Day, offering updates on any potential disruptions to the voting process.
In a similar briefing the day prior, Easterly had mentioned that “election infrastructure has never been more secure” and reassured that election officials were well-prepared to address potential disruptions and threats. Up to that point, the agency had only identified minor incidents that had no significant impacts on the election infrastructure, such as low-level DDoS attacks, criminal destruction of ballots and drop boxes, severe weather conditions, and threats against election officials. She also highlighted the unprecedented amount of disinformation spread by foreign adversaries during the election cycle.
During the early media briefings on Tuesday, CISA Senior Advisor Cait Conley stated that the agency was monitoring extreme weather and temporary infrastructure disruptions in certain areas but noted that these were expected and planned-for events.
One of the most significant disruptions on Election Day was a series of bomb threats targeting polling locations in several battleground states. The FBI indicated that these threats, originating from Russian email domains, were deemed noncredible. Despite the need for police checks and some locations extending voting hours in response to the threats, voters were still able to cast their ballots.
Easterly referenced the bomb threats during the Tuesday night briefing and mentioned that while they did not impact the voting process, they were of concern. She acknowledged that these threats could delay the voting and counting process but emphasized the preparedness of election officials to handle such disruptions within the complex election environment.
During the Q&A session, Easterly responded to questions about the impact of the bomb threats on the election. She described such disruptions as one of many challenges faced during an event involving numerous election workers and polling places. Despite these disruptions, Easterly reiterated that the election proceeded smoothly overall.
As the election certification process continues, Easterly assured that CISA would remain vigilant in monitoring threats. She emphasized the successful efforts of the agency in ensuring the security and integrity of the election.
Former CISA Director Chris Krebs, who had been fired by former President Donald Trump in 2020, also commended the safety and security of the 2024 election cycle. He highlighted the professionalism of election officials in handling the bomb threats and emphasized the need for further discussions on addressing such threats moving forward.
In conclusion, the 2024 U.S. presidential election was deemed a success in terms of security and resilience by CISA officials. The coordinated efforts of election officials, agencies, and law enforcement contributed to a smooth and secure electoral process, reflecting positively on the democratic values upheld during the election.