Increased Cybersecurity for Illinois Midterm Elections

Increased Cybersecurity for Illinois Midterm Elections

The Illinois National Guard is bringing in hundreds of cybersecurity experts to help ensure the integrity of the midterm elections and prevent the compromise of election results.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • Oct 18, 2018

Illinois is taking steps to increase election security as the midterms approach. State Board of Elections Chairman William Cadigan said voters should feel sure that their Nov. 6 votes “will be securely counted.”

Illinois election officials have said no voter registration records were taken and no election results were compromised in the Russian hack that took place in July 2016.  As a result of the hack, however, the State Board of Elections is working to increase cybersecurity to prevent a hacking incident from happening again.

Election officials are working with national agencies like the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and for the first time in Illinois election history, the National Guard. The Illinois National Guard is bringing in hundreds of cybersecurity experts to help ensure the integrity of the midterm elections and prevent the compromise of election results.

In addition to partnering with outside agencies, Illinois election officials said they have installed greater firewall protections for voter records and election results. Clerks and election judges have also received “detailed cyber training.”

The Department of Homeland Security has allocated about $13 million for Illinois voting security programs to prevent the system from being hacked again.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

  • Report: Cyber Attackers Continue to Turn to AI-Based Tools to Avoid Detection

    Comcast Business recently released its 2025 Cybersecurity Threat Report, a comprehensive analysis of 34.6 billion cybersecurity events detected between June 1,2024 and May 31, 2025. Now in its third year, the report offers business leaders a unique perspective into the evolving threat landscape and provides actionable insights to help organizations strengthen their defenses and align cybersecurity with business risk. Read Now

  • Axis Communications Creates AI-powered Video Surveillance Orchestra

    What if cameras could not only see the world, but interpret it—and respond like orchestra musicians reading sheet music: instantly, precisely, and in perfect harmony? That’s what global network technology leader Axis Communications set to find out. Read Now

  • Just as Expected

    GSX produced a wonderful tradeshow earlier this week. Monday was surprisingly strong in the morning, and the afternoon wasn’t bad at all. That’s Monday’s results and asking attendees to travel on Sunday. Just a quick hint, no one wants to give up their weekend to travel and set up an exhibit booth. I’m just saying. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX

  • NOLA: The Crescent City

    Twenty years later we finds ourselves in New Orleans. Twenty years ago the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina forced exhibitors and attendees to look elsewhere for tradeshow floor space. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
Most   Popular

New Products

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.