10 Ways States Kept Our Elections Secure
The 2026 midterms put America’s election safeguards to the test. State and local officials were ready.
In This Resource
The 2026 midterm elections demonstrated the strength of America’s election system. Despite months of threats, uncertainty, and concerns about disruption, voters made their voices heard, and state and local officials ran another free, fair, and secure election. Their preparations paid off.
American elections are protected by multiple layers of security before, during, and after voting. No single machine, official, or procedure alone ensures accurate results. Instead, overlapping safeguards work together to protect voters, secure ballots, and make sure every eligible vote—and only every eligible vote—is counted.
States run elections in America, with state and local officials responsible for everything from registering voters to certifying the results, all in accordance with federal and state law. While procedures vary across the country, every state has safeguards in place to protect the voting process, including verifying voter eligibility, testing equipment, counting ballots, and auditing results. In 2026, election officials spent months preparing for potential threats and disruptions. When challenges arose, they were ready to respond.
Here are 10 ways states keep American elections free, fair, and secure.
Election security starts well before Election Day, with the testing and verification of records, equipment, and security systems.
1. States verify eligibility and keep voter rolls accurate.
In every state, voters must be U.S. citizens and meet age, residency, and other requirements to register to vote in state and federal elections. States verify the eligibility of voters through applications, identifying information, and checks against government records. Depending on the state and circumstances, voters may be required to present identification when casting their ballots.
Election officials update voter rolls throughout the year using information such as address changes, death records, and other government data to ensure those who are registered are eligible to vote. These updates are also designed to prevent eligible voters from being improperly removed.
Federal law establishes procedures that protect eligible voters from being removed from the rolls simply because they have changed addresses or haven’t voted in recent elections.
2. Voting equipment is certified, tested, and secured before anyone votes.
States establish certification requirements to ensure voting equipment meets state and federal security and performance standards. States also have procedures to verify that the equipment used in elections matches certification requirements.
Before voting begins, election officials conduct logic and accuracy tests using ballots with predetermined selections to confirm that machines record and count votes correctly. Many states—Wisconsin, for example—conduct these tests publicly.
Additional voting machine protections include tamper-evident seals, secure storage, equipment tracking, and restrictions on access. Voting machines at polling places and ballot tabulators are not connected to the internet, as a further measure to protect machines from outside interference.
3. Cybersecurity protects election systems and voter data.
States use multiple layers of cybersecurity to protect voter registration databases and election infrastructure. These protections include limiting access to sensitive systems, requiring multifactor authentication, monitoring for threats, and regularly backing up data. Election officials also work with federal and state cybersecurity partners to identify threats and strengthen defenses.
Once voting begins, election officials make sure that every voter and ballot is accounted for, election materials are protected, and votes are handled according to law.
4. Mail ballots and drop boxes are protected at each step.
States have procedures to verify mail ballots, track their receipt, and ensure they are secure during processing. While exact requirements vary across states, safeguards generally include signature verification, ballot tracking, and controls to prevent duplicate voting. In Arizona, for example, election officials compare signatures on mail ballot envelopes with voter records and contact voters when signatures cannot be verified.
Where states authorize ballot drop boxes, they establish requirements for secure placement, ballot collection, and handling. In Washington, for example, drop boxes are secured with seals and logs and must be opened and emptied by at least two authorized election workers. In Nevada, ballot drop boxes at polling places must be emptied by bipartisan teams. States also protect ballot secrecy by separating identifying information from ballots before counting.
5. Chain of custody and reconciliation account for every ballot.
Election officials document how ballots and equipment are stored, handled, and transferred, including well after Election Day. State and local election officials use logs, sealed containers, designated personnel, and written procedures to maintain accountability throughout the process. In Illinois and other states, bipartisan teams of election judges return ballots to election authorities at the end of each day in sealed containers.
Reconciliation is another safeguard by which election officials compare the number of ballots with voter records and other election documentation. In Minnesota, for example, election judges match ballot totals against roster signatures or voter receipts before leaving on election night. When discrepancies arise, officials investigate and resolve them under established procedures.
These safeguards also help officials respond when problems arise. During the 2026 midterms, a severe storm knocked out power at polling places in Leon County, Florida. But election workers were prepared with battery-powered equipment, emergency lighting, and backup supplies that allowed voting to continue. It’s an example of how months of preparation help keep elections running even when unexpected challenges arise.
6. Paper records provide an independent check on the count.
In nearly every state, paper ballots and voter-verifiable paper records provide an independent way to confirm electronically reported results. These records allow election officials to compare electronically reported totals with physical evidence of votes cast, providing a foundation for post-election audits and recounts. These paper records are subject to legally required retention periods for audits, recounts, and other reviews.
The safeguards do not end when the polls close. Election Day is the deadline for voting, not for counting and official election results.
7. Counting continues after election night, and results become official through canvass and certification.
The media may report results on election night, but these are not official results. Before making results final, election officials review returns, reconcile ballot totals, investigate discrepancies, and complete the official canvass—following state law. Totals may change as additional eligible ballots are counted and verified.
States have different timelines for processing ballots and certifying results. Pennsylvania counties cannot begin opening mail ballots until Election Day, while Georgia allows election officials to begin processing absentee ballots beforehand. These differences can affect when final results are available, but they all adhere to established counting procedures for a given state.
After election officials check and recheck results, they certify the results through a process governed by state law. Certification is a mandatory process. There may be litigation that continues to occur even after the election results are certified.
8. Audits check reported totals against the ballots.
Post-election audits, which take place before certification, provide an independent check of election results by comparing reported totals with paper ballots or other election records. Audits differ from recounts, which follow separate legal procedures and may involve reviewing a larger set of ballots.
States use several approaches for audits. Colorado and Pennsylvania conduct risk-limiting audits, which use statistical methods to determine how many ballots must be examined by hand. Minnesota uses randomly selected precincts for post-election reviews, while Illinois randomly selects precincts and early voting equipment for retabulation.
Many states allow public observation of audits, providing another opportunity to examine how results are verified.
9. Trained workers, bipartisan checks, and public observation provide accountability and transparency.
Election workers receive training, and many states require bipartisan teams or multiple officials to participate in sensitive election activities. In Minnesota, for example, certain tasks require election judges from different major political parties. Illinois requires election judges to represent both major parties. In Maryland, election workers undergo hours of training and must pass a quiz to serve.
Public observation adds transparency throughout the election process. Depending on state law, observers, including observers from both major political parties, may watch equipment testing, voting, counting, audits, and canvassing. Observation is governed by rules that protect voters, ballot secrecy, and election workers.
Across the country, trained election officials and poll workers kept voting running smoothly, helped voters navigate challenges, and protected the integrity of the process. Their months of preparation made a difference.
10. Election laws provide ways to resolve problems and disputes.
When problems arise, state laws provide established ways to investigate, resolve disputes, and protect voters’ rights. These mechanisms include administrative reviews, investigations, recounts, and election contests in court.
When disputes arise, courts examine the facts and the law and, where appropriate, can require officials to carry out mandatory duties. These processes provide established ways to address problems while protecting voters’ rights and the integrity of election results.
Challenges and disruptions don’t mean an election is broken. From severe weather to equipment problems, election officials relied on established procedures to address issues, protect voters, and keep the process moving.
The 2026 midterms demonstrated what these safeguards look like in action. Voters turned out, state and local officials were prepared, and America’s state-run election system held strong under pressure. That’s a testament to the thousands of election officials and poll workers who spent months preparing to protect the vote.
But the work doesn’t end on Election Day. Election officials continue verifying ballots, reviewing results, and investigating discrepancies until the process is complete. The rules may differ from state to state, but the goal remains the same: making sure every eligible vote is counted accurately and securely.
The system worked because of the safeguards in place and the people committed to carrying them out.