Science Rising Election Protection - An Emergency Management Perspective

(MENAFN- EIN Presswire)

FEMA's Community Lifelines (without any Election Protections, today). Source: (C) Barton Dunant. Used with Permission.

AI generated image of a man standing next to an outdoor ballot deposit box. (Source: Canva)

Election Protection Administered by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

Social scientists join with the Union of Concerned Scientists and Protect Democracy in supporting the Science Rising Ambassadors program for U.S. Elections.

Elections run on our own neighbors: from the poll workers, to the clerks, and even the voters themselves. None of us can do everything, but all of us can do something to help our community vote.” - Allie Cashel, Organizing & Campaign Strategist, Protect Democracy

WASHINGTON, NJ, UNITED STATES, October 29, 2026 /EINPresswire / -- Emergency Management Training and Consulting is participating with the Union of Concerned Scientists and Protect Democracy in supporting the Science Rising Ambassadors program. This program empowers scientists backing election protection efforts, supporting local election officials, and helping voters report problems ahead of the November 3, 2026, election and beyond.

Scientists are trusted messengers in their communities and unexpected voices in the fight for election protection. Included in that group are social scientists who research and advocate for emergency management as part of the solution for all types of threats and hazards to our communities. Barton Dunant's Senior Research Analyst Michael Prasad, CEM^® is part of that effort:

“For several years, I have advocated for the integration of the U.S. election process into the nation's emergency-management framework. Elections are essential to the continuity of government, and the threats against our system have increased annually. Foreign adversaries have demonstrated their determination to exploit them to divide Americans, undermine public confidence, and advance their own strategic interests. These threats strengthen the case for protecting elections through the same disciplined planning used to sustain critical infrastructure and respond to disasters.”

That article can be found at“Homeland Security Today”: subject-matter-areas/emergency-preparedness/bringing-election-officials-and-emergency-managers-together-to-strengthen-resilience-against-cyberattacks-and-threats/

Local elections should be incorporated into local Emergency Management. A comprehensive approach should connect election operations with established continuity, critical-infrastructure, and emergency-management practices. Elections enable the constitutional transfer of power. The systems that support them-including voter-registration databases, polling places, voting equipment, ballot storage, tabulation, audits, reporting, and certification-must remain functional during disruptions.

These systems are interconnected. A power outage can close a polling location. A cyber incident can interrupt access to registration records. Severe weather can delay ballot transportation. Threats against workers can undermine staffing or force evacuations, while false information can create confusion about where, when, or how to vote.

Protecting election continuity therefore requires more than securing individual machines or facilities. Election officials must understand how personnel, technology, records, communications, utilities, vendors, and external partners work together-and what happens when one becomes unavailable.

An all-hazards approach provides a practical framework for preparedness, prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. Election officials and emergency managers should jointly assess risks, define authorities, establish redundant communications, identify backup facilities and staffing, pre-position resources, exercise contingency plans, coordinate public messaging, and document recovery procedures.

Consequence Management planning must cover the entire election cycle, from registration and ballot distribution through counting, canvassing, audits, certification, and any necessary runoffs. Threats and disruptions can occur at any point, including after polls close.

State and local election authorities must remain responsible for administering elections. Federal partners can contribute intelligence, technical assistance, coordination, and consequence-management resources when needs exceed local capacity. Clearly defined roles and relationships established before Election Day make that support more effective.

Election resilience encompasses the full operational chain through the transfer of power. It requires protecting the people who administer elections, sustaining the systems they operate, and communicating reliably with the public when adversaries or emergencies threaten to disrupt the process.

“Elections run on neighbors: poll workers, clerks, and voters. None of us can do everything, but all of us can do something to help our community vote,” said Allie Cashel, Organizing & Campaign Strategist, Protect Democracy.

Voters who see or experience any threats or hazards - including intimidation or interference - can call the nonpartisan Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).

ABOUT US
Protect Democracy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit group working to prevent American democracy from declining into a more authoritarian form of government. For more information visit: or

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is a national nonprofit organization founded more than 50 years ago by scientists and students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. For more information about their“Protect the Vote in November 2026” efforts, visit:

Barton Dunant is the research and advocacy group of York Drive, LLC, and represents the emergency management consulting and writing of Michael Prasad, MA, CEM^®.

CEM^® is a registered trademark of the International Association of Emergency Managers – USA, and is used with authorization.

Michael Prasad
York Drive, LLC
+1 908-247-7211
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Science Rising Election Protection - An Emergency Management Perspective News Provided By York Drive, LLC October 29, 2026, 11:51 GMT Share This Article Distribution channels: Law, Media, Advertising & PR, Science, Social Media, U.S. Politics

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