Talking Points: Election Security and Reliability

Sharing truthful, proactive messaging about voting and elections is one of the best ways we can fight disinformation. The messages on this page are framed around the security and reliability of our election system. Find more messaging guidance in our get-out-the-vote talking points here. 

Counter misinformation before it happens by regularly directing voters to trusted information, including VOTE411.org 

• VOTE411.org has all the accurate, multilingual, and unbiased information voters need.  

• Check VOTE411 for the most up-to-date election information in your area in both English and Spanish. 

• Dates, times, locations, and who is on your ballot — there’s a lot you need to know before you vote! Get the trusted info you need at VOTE411.org. 

• We all deserve to have our voices heard. Disinformation dealers want you to be confused to keep you from participating in our democracy. Be sure to get the info you need at VOTE411.org. 

Prepare people for voting in-person and emphasize that ballots are handled securely 

• Voters are protected by state and federal law from threats or intimidation at the polls, including from election observers. 

• If you feel that you’ve been a victim of, or witnessed, voter intimidation or threats, please report the experience to the Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (other languages available here). If you experience an emergency, please call 911. 

• Your ballot is safe! State ballot handling procedures protect against intentional or unintentional ballot destruction and related tampering. 

• Election officials implement ballot processing and tabulation safeguards designed to ensure each ballot cast in the election can be correctly counted. These safeguards include chain of custody procedures, auditable logging requirements, and canvass processes. 

• All states have some form of pre- and post-testing of voting equipment, as well as ballot counting processes open for public observation, and many more states have implemented post-election audits. Post-election audits, including ‘risk-limiting-audits,' ensure that the vote count was done correctly and that we can trust results.  

Emphasize the secure tracking and counting processes of voting-by-mail, and the security of drop boxes 

• Rest assured, voting by mail is secure! States use a variety of methods to keep ballots safe. Visit VOTE411.org to learn more about how to vote-by-mail this election season. 

• States have used vote-by-mail processes for over a hundred years, and some states even conduct all their elections by mail. Military and overseas voters need to vote by mail in many cases, and they are also able to do so safely and securely.  

• States safeguard mail ballots by verifying signatures, tracking barcodes, and setting clear chains of custody for all ballots. 

• Ballot drop boxes are a secure option for voters who want to avoid the rush at voting centers on Election Day. Find information on drop boxes in your area on VOTE411.org. 

• Learn about mail-in ballot verification in your state: https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/vopp-table-14-how-states-verify-voted-absentee.aspx. 

Curb public expectations for immediate election results  

• Election results are not final until certification. Election night reporting is unofficial, and those results may change as ballot counting is completed. 

• As we wait for a final tally to be released, election officials are hard at work ensuring they count every vote. An accurate ballot count is more important than a fast ballot count.  

• With the increase of absentee and mail voting since 2020, it is essential that every vote is counted and every voter’s voice is heard. We should all prepare for many election results to be announced after Election Day. 

• Beware of false claims about the election results. We expect bad actors to spread disinformation to cast doubt for their own political gain. You can report election disinformation you see online at https://reportdisinfo.org/. 

Find more in-depth responses to common election rumors at this resource from the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. 

For more on voting equipment security, check out this resource from the US Election Assistance Commission.