PROVIDENCE, RI – Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea today briefed political and civic leaders on improvements made in elections administration and cybersecurity ahead of the 2018 election season.
"I am working to improve access to the ballot box while protecting the integrity of every vote," Secretary Gorbea said. "From new technology that will improve the voter experience to best practices in election security, it is important for Rhode Islanders to know about the progress we have made since the 2016 elections."
The briefing included the state's progress on 17 recommendations made by the Elections Task Force she convened after the 2016 elections.
Among the 17 recommendations discussed in the updated report, 10 have already been completed, including the passage of Automatic Voter Registration, and post-election audits legislation, and the implementation of ePoll books.
Five recommendations are in progress. Two recommendations are on hold – one pending a Supreme Court ruling and the other pending a data analysis of the 2018 General Election.
Secretary Gorbea also provided a cybersecurity report that highlights the work being done to mitigate risks ahead of the 2018 elections. This work includes partnerships and collaborations with the Department of Homeland Security, the Multi-State Information Sharing & Analysis Center, and the Rhode Island National Guard.
"Despite the progress made over the past three years, it is important to remember that cybersecurity is not a destination, but a continually evolving road that requires constant attention to mitigate risk," Secretary Gorbea said. "We must always strive to do better for voters because the single act of casting a ballot is fundamental to our democracy and to making government accountable to the people it serves."