GENESEO, N.Y., Aug. 21, 2024 — Six state and federal agencies covering technology, cybersecurity, law enforcement and homeland security met with state and county election officials, including members of the Livingston County Board of Elections, in four meetings across New York recently.
The workshops were held to ensure readiness in advance of the November 2024 elections, offering a unified and collaborative sharing of information between all levels of government across the Cyber & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the New York State Executive Chamber, the New York State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services (DHSES), the New York State Police (NYSP), and the New York State Office of Information Technology Services (ITS).
The day-long sessions took place in Westchester, Saratoga, Onondaga, and Erie counties. In addition to representatives from county boards of elections, county information technology professionals, emergency managers, and communications directors all participated. The tabletop exercises examined coordination and response capabilities during a variety of hypothetical cyber and physical security incidents impacting elections. Attending the session held in Erie County were election commissioners from Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara and Orleans counties.
“This collaboration is important as it allows us to pool resources and expertise from various sectors, including technology, cybersecurity, and emergency management to facilitate our election process and ensure preparedness for the upcoming presidential election,” said Livingston County Republican Election Commissioner Gary Nageldinger.
He attended the session alongside Livingston County Democratic Election Commissioner David DiPasquale, who added, “The workshop we participated in was important for enhancing our understanding of election security best practices, incident response processes and the latest regulations around cybersecurity. It not only provided us with the necessary tools to safeguard our voting equipment and software, but also equipped us to combat misinformation and disinformation, which are becoming more widespread with each election. We are committed to working closely with our federal, state, and local partners to maintain the trust and confidence of the voters in Livingston County."
The 2024 General Election is November 5, 2024. Early voting will occur from October 26, 2024, through November 3, 2024. For information about registering to vote, requesting a ballot, or finding your polling place, voters should visit the New York State Board of Elections website. For local voter information, visit the Livingston County Board of Elections website.
The workshops were coordinated by the New York State Board of Elections.
“The integrity of our elections is a cornerstone of our democracy,” said Kristen Zebrowski Stavisky, co-executive director of the New York State Board of Elections. “We are committed to ensuring that every vote is secure, and that New Yorkers can have full confidence in the electoral process. Working collaboratively with our federal, state, and local partners is essential in achieving this goal as we approach the upcoming general election.”
“Coordination with our federal, state, and local partners has been vital to ensuring New York maintains safe and secure elections,” said Raymond J. Riley III, co-executive director of the New York State Board of Elections. “Voters across the state can remain confident that the state board, the county boards, and a number of government agencies at all levels are ready for election day.”
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About Livingston County:
Founded in 1821, Livingston County, N.Y., is home to more than 61,000 residents in 17 towns located across 631 square miles of the Finger Lakes region.