Giving Compass' Take:

• Quentin E. Hodgson and Jennifer Kavanagh discuss what is needed to ensure that the 2020 election is secure and that American voters can participate without compromising their health. 

• What role can you take on to protect elections in 2020 and beyond?

• Read about democracy and philanthropy. 

During the recent months of the pandemic, U.S. adversaries have stepped up both cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns. The United States should expect them to also take advantage of the logistical challenges of voting in a COVID-19 world to redouble their efforts against elections.

A recent Brennan Center report (PDF) argues that states will need significantly more funding to prepare for the November election, noting for example that the federal grant would only cover roughly 10% of the estimated $110 to $124 million Georgia alone would need to spend between now and Election Day.

Meantime, the cyber threats to voting systems have not diminished; indeed they may be elevated as adversaries see an opportunity in the crisis. Even as they rush to buy high-speed optical ballot scanners and distribute vote-by-mail request forms, election officials must continue to safeguard their (old and new) IT infrastructure. Voter registration databases, electronic pollbooks used to check in voters, websites publishing vital information about changes to voting processes—all these need to be kept secure. States are likely to need yet more federal funding, particularly given that most states will have to balance their budgets even as tax revenues crater this year.

Other options are available to states—and all of them may be needed. The federal government, for instance, could offer assistance via Homeland Security's cybersecurity agency, which could corral resources and manpower from the Department of Defense (including the National Guard), FBI and the intelligence community.

Private companies—including Microsoft, Akamai and Cloudflare—provided free cybersecurity services to elections officials in the run-up to the 2018 midterm elections. They could renew that offer of help. Other private companies could add their support and provide software, hardware or other equipment needed to support safe polling places, efficient and secure remote voting options, and the public education campaigns needed to tell citizens about their voting options.

And finally, all citizens should figure out early on their voting options and make a plan for how they are going to vote. The integrity of our elections is central to the health of our democracy, no less so now that we also have to worry about the health of voters.

Read the full article about American elections by Quentin E. Hodgson and Jennifer Kavanagh at RAND Corporation.