Secretary of State John Merrill announced yesterday that Alabama had participated in a program called Tabletop the Vote earlier in the month. It is a program run by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), and the National Association of State Election Directors (NASSED). It was created to help prepare election officials and state agencies for any cyber or physical incident that could occur during an election.
An annual exercise, the session provides the opportunity for election leaders to stress test protocols and practice communication strategies during an election. Officials learn how to plan, prepare, and respond to emergency situations by working through modules that help identify strengths and weaknesses within the election process.
Marty Redden, Secretary for the Office of Information Technology, stated, “The value of these exercises cannot be overstated. It allows us to refine and test our processes with both state and federal partners in a controlled environment. These exercises allow all participants to openly communicate ideas and risks, while improving our readiness prior to a real election.”
“Alabama was excited to participate in such a proactive and engaging assembly that helps our state to continue to conduct the best elections possible. These learning experiences contribute to our plans to be able to execute the most safe and secure elections in the nation,” commented Secretary of State John Merrill.
