Election security drills focus on disinformation, disasters, and more
Wednesday, officials from 147 communities participated in a statewide drill at the state Emergency Operations Center in Hartford. State police and the FBI also took part.
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With a major election cycle underway, Connecticut election officials are taking steps to ensure the security of polling places.
Wednesday, officials from 147 communities participated in a statewide drill at the state Emergency Operations Center in Hartford. State police and the FBI also took part.
The drill simulated a range of scenarios, including:
Online disinformation campaigns: Officials practiced strategies for combating the spread of false information aimed at undermining voter confidence.
Natural disasters: Participants reviewed protocols for dealing with disruptions caused by severe weather or other emergencies.
Suspicious substances: The drill included a scenario involving the discovery of white powder at a polling place, allowing officials to practice procedures for responding to potential threats.
In Connecticut, voting machines are not connected to the internet but the drill looked at what would happen if the state's Centralized Voter Registration System went down.
"We considered everything from physical security at a polling location to cyber security issues," says Brenda Bergeron, the deputy commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services.
