Election Day response plans tested

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently hosted the third Tabletop the Vote initiative, which officials said serves as a test of Election Day response plans.

The exercise executed July 28 to 30 included 37 states and approximately 2,100 total participants, officials said, noting as in previous years, state and local officials participated virtually,  as they would be on Election Day. 

“In less than three months, millions of Americans will cast their vote,” CISA Director Christopher Krebs noted via a joint statement with local, state and federal personnel. “But for the state and local officials who administer elections and the government and private sector partners who support them, the work has been ongoing for more than three years. We have made significant progress during that time.”

Officials maintain the Tabletop the Vote exercise demonstrated unprecedented levels of coordination between all levels of government and the private sector to ensure the 2020 elections are decided by voters and free of foreign interference.

“The American people have a role to play, too,” officials concluded via the joint statement. “Election Day may look different than you’ve seen in the past, and with more Americans voting absentee, it will take longer to tabulate and report complete results. We recognize that change can lead to confusion, and adversaries may seek to exploit that confusion to spread doubt in the process or disinformation. These efforts can only be successful if we let them, which is why it’s important to be patient and remember that your state and local officials are the best sources for trusted and accurate information about voting, Election Day procedures and official results.”