Physical Security Checklist for Polling Locations

As part of the continued commitment to working collaboratively with those on the front lines of elections to manage risk to the nation’s election infrastructure, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) developed the Physical Security Checklist for Polling Locations to assist election officials with improving physical security by reviewing existing security practices—and helping to identify areas for improvement—through an easy-to-use questionnaire.

Individuals or groups responsible for preparing polling locations for use on election day may use this resource to assess potential security vulnerabilities and identify additional actions that may be required in advance of the election. Designed for ease of use, the checklist requires no prior security experience.

The checklist broadly addresses several overarching security principles, including:

• Identifying an individual or group responsible for security and safety.
• Utilizing risk assessments to inform security.
• Developing plans to inform processes and procedures.
• Refining security measures before election day.
• Implementing mitigations and “day of” security measures.
• Reporting suspicious behavior or potential incidents.