Personal security has become a vital element of election security. Protecting yourself requires action both on and off the job.
Dedicate 30 minutes to discussing personal security with your staff to evaluate your security posture. Use the following suggestions to identify areas for improvement.
- Physical Security: Secure your physical space!
- Ensure doors and windows are locked when leaving and when working late.
- Deter intruders with lighting, security cameras, or an alarm system.
- Park in a well-lit area covered by a security camera or in a staffed parking lot, if possible; consider leaving in pairs if working longer hours.
- At home, consider security cameras and maintain landscaping to eliminate hiding places and ensure clear visibility.
- Consider a log of suspicious incidents, or even minor ones. A pattern often emerges that precedes escalation, and documentation is essential if you need to involve law enforcement.
- Situational Awareness: Stay alert and observe your surroundings!
- Keep your head up, maintain eye contact, and avoid distractions like scrolling on your phone when walking.
- Exercise caution with personal information around strangers.
- Alternate commuting routes and leave at variable times when possible. Let a family member or friend know if you are leaving work unusually late.
- Monitor visitor entry – identify visitors and escort them while on the premises.
- Use discretion – avoid looking at personal and work-related documents in public spaces. Keep work credentials and personal identification (driver’s licenses, government IDs, conference badges, bank cards) out of sight.
- Brief your family. Doxxing targets households, not just offices. Make sure your family members know to safeguard their information as well.
- Online Security: Protect your digital life!
- Update your privacy and security settings to your comfort level for information sharing. Audit your family members’ settings, too.
- Disable geotagging so that no one can see where you are at any time.
- Use unique usernames and (strong!) passwords across social media platforms.
- Share with care – limit publicly available personally identifiable information (PII).
- Avoid posting photos on social media that show your home address or license plate, or that easily identify your house or your children.
- Limit information about your location, especially travel plans.
- Review previous posts for information that could be used to target you.
- Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when browsing or working on public wi-fi.
- If you connect it, protect it – keep your devices updated to the latest security software, and protect them with antivirus software.
- Use multifactor authentication (MFA) for all network, email, and social media accounts to prevent attackers from accessing them and leaking information.
Check out these nonpartisan resources for additional recommendations:
- CISA Personal Security Considerations Action Guide
- EAC 60 Second Personal Safety
- EAC Checklist: Personal Security for Election Officials
- Remove Private Info from Google Search
The Planning Desk is a running timeline of key election security tasks. You can find prior editions in the newsletter archive.