BOE completes directive to boost election security

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The Fayette County Board of Elections has announced the successful completion of security upgrades required by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose.

On June 11, 2019, Secretary of State Frank LaRose issued Directive 2019-08, a comprehensive, multi-faceted security strategy for local boards that provides the redundancy required of a strong election system infrastructure. Counties had until Jan. 31, 2020 to complete the secretary’s requirements. The effort has made Ohio the national leader in election security, according to LaRose.

The directive included a checklist of 34 separate requirements that must be met in order to be considered compliant. The specifics of the checklist essentially serve as Ohio’s detailed defense plan against adversaries who seek to disrupt our elections. The requirements fall under five separate sectors:

· Physical security assessments and improvements

· Background checks of personnel

· Secure website and e-mail domains

· Cyber-attack detection, system hardening and network defense

· Security Training

“The voters in Fayette County should be proud of their local Board of Elections for successfully embracing such a big challenge,” said Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. “By elevating their defensive posture, they’ve helped make Ohio a national model for election security.”

In January of 2017, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designated Election Infrastructure as part of the nation’s critical infrastructure. By its very nature, each and every election system is vulnerable to ever-changing security environments. By implementing this elevated security posture that is a model for the nation, Ohio will be in the best possible standing to deter any threats to our election system, both foreign and domestic, according to LaRose.

The deadline to register to vote or update voter registration for the March 17 primary election is Feb. 18 and early voting begins Feb. 19.

Those who are not registered in time will be unable to vote in the primary which includes local and state offices as well as the presidential primary election.

Online voter registration and registration updates are an option through the website of the Ohio Secretary of State, Frank LaRose.

In-person registration and registration updates can be completed at the Fayette County Board of Elections, 135 S. Main St. in Washington C.H., from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

One contested race for Fayette County Commissioner between incumbent Tony Anderson and challenger Donald Fleak — both Republicans — is set for the March 17 primary. No Democrats filed for Fayette County races.

https://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2020/02/2020ElectionArt-horiz-rev2.pdf

The Record-Herald

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