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Lesson 12 min 20 XP

Election Security

How elections are protected from hacking, foreign interference, and manipulation, and what genuine election security looks like.

The Threat Landscape

Election security encompasses protection against multiple threats: cyberattacks on voting infrastructure, foreign interference campaigns, insider manipulation, and physical disruption. Russia's interference in the 2016 US presidential election, which included hacking Democratic Party emails, targeting state election systems, and running social media disinformation campaigns, elevated election security from a niche concern to a top national security priority.

The attack surface is broad. Voter registration databases can be targeted to delete or alter records. Voting machines can be hacked if they are connected to networks or if their supply chain is compromised. Election night reporting systems can be attacked to sow confusion (even if actual vote counts are secure). And disinformation campaigns can undermine public confidence in results without touching any election infrastructure.

Election Security | Model Diplomat