The Role of Physical Security in Election Integrity

Democracy depends on a voting system that is secure and reliable. 

Just as importantly, it depends on people’s belief that the voting process is secure and reliable.

If people think votes have been tampered with at any point in the election process, they lose trust in the results, which is when fear, outrage, and mob mentality tend to take the reins. 

With confidence eroding in the electoral system, tackling election security is more complex—and more important—than ever. Physical security plays a crucial role in the defense of democracy, with measures ranging from tamper-evident seals and chain-of-custody protocols to access control and surveillance cameras.

Physical Security at Every Point in Election Infrastructure

There’s no room for error when it comes to protecting election integrity. 

Every piece of equipment, every location, and every election official is a potential problem waiting to happen; therefore, it’s crucial that election security and processes are carefully constructed and upheld every step of the way.

Before the Polls Open

Election security should begin well before the polls open. Since each situation is unique, election officials need to take care that their security plan is tailored to their location and assets. They should also review and learn from any past mistakes to ensure things run as smoothly and securely as possible.

All poll workers and other involved parties should have necessary training on handling and access procedures. Meanwhile, two-person verification should be used for just about everything to avoid tampering by internal threats.

Both voting equipment and security equipment should be tested where needed and completely ready to go for the big day.

Protecting Polling Places

When it comes to election security, polling places tend to be the main point of conversation—and often rightly so. While every part of the election process needs to be treated with the utmost care, polling places naturally face additional security challenges simply because of the fact that they involve large crowds of people. 

In addition to safeguarding against insider threats, election officials have to carefully monitor the actions of hundreds of potential wild cards. This creates the need for extensive access control measures from voter registration to sealed ballot boxes. 

While no security cameras belong in the booths (for obvious reasons), surveillance cameras are a vital tool when it comes to election security:

• Cameras provide an unbiased record of events (particularly when stationed in multiple locations for complete coverage).
• Highly visible cameras, such as mobile surveillance units, deter unwanted behavior and reassure the public that security is taken seriously.
• Real-time monitoring and detection capabilities help catch potential problems before they escalate. 

Secure Transportation

Transporting votes from polling places to counting centers is an often overlooked, yet potentially vulnerable aspect. This is an ideal place for security personnel or law enforcement officers to assist by providing an escort. The votes themselves should be securely sealed for transport and stay that way until official counting begins.

Counting on Security

As crucial as it is to protect the polling place, securing the counting center is just as important. While access control at the counting center may be easier to manage logistically, the same strict standards must apply, including restricted access, thorough chain-of-custody procedures, and verification at every step.

Again, two-person integrity measures and detailed documentation are crucial throughout this process to ensure every aspect is secure and by the book.

In addition, outdoor security cameras should provide a strong layer of exterior defense with remote monitoring, intrusion-detection alerts, and night-vision capability.

Safe Storage

When the election is officially over, the equipment might go into storage, but the security concerns stay. All voting equipment should be stored in secure, monitored locations to safeguard against tampering between elections.

Election Security Tools

Location, equipment, and resources all affect how individual precincts address election security, but every precinct relies on a standard set of procedures and tools.

Protocols

Protocols are one of the most basic forms of election security—and one of the most important.

While the list of protocols could take up an entire article by itself, some are particularly noteworthy:

• Two-person verification: Having two or more people jointly responsible for every task leaves less room for errors and makes it much harder for bad actors to cause issues.
• Audits: Audits help find human errors and equipment issues. They can be used to confirm that reported outcomes match the actual votes cast or to confirm the use of proper procedures throughout the process.
• Chain-of-custody documentation: By carefully documenting who handles ballots or equipment, when, and under what conditions, it creates accountability and reviewability in the event something comes into question.

Serial Numbers and Seals

Serial numbers are used in several ways in elections, partly for anonymous verification and partly for security purposes. 

For example, seals on voting machines, ballot boxes, and memory card compartments are marked with serial numbers. After the polls close, officials check the seal numbers again. If any seals are broken or have numbers that do not match, it signals possible tampering.

Access Control

Access control is one of the most crucial election security measures. It ensures only authorized people perform specific actions and that every action is traceable. This applies to everything from voter registration to the use of credentials to access restricted areas (which, again, should always be at least a two-person event). 

While it’s important to keep people out of sensitive areas to avoid tampering, authorized personnel such as poll watchers can come in as an added layer of accountability. 

During off seasons, access control remains paramount. Voting equipment should be stored in secure facilities with restricted access backed up by video surveillance.

Surveillance Cameras

Unfortunately, tampering efforts don’t actually have to work to cause damage; if it even looks like a security breach occurs, the election integrity is compromised. Surveillance footage provides an extra layer of protection via unbiased documentation, often from multiple angles.

In addition to the deterrence effect provided by highly visible cameras, remote monitoring and detection-and-alert capabilities enable fast, informed responses in the case of potential problems. 

Mobile surveillance units can be of particular use when it comes to temporary locations like polling places as they’re designed to be easy to deploy and relocate. 

LVT and Election Security

LiveView Technologies® (LVT) built its mobile surveillance unit specifically for temporary situations needing top-tier security. The election process fits that description perfectly. 

Quality perimeter surveillance is only one aspect of the complex election security plan, but it’s as crucial as every other measure. For more information on how LVT can provide perimeter protection to help secure election integrity, contact the LVT team today.