To establish strong physical security, your perimeter is usually your first line of defense. This guide highlights low-cost/high-impact recommendations where election officials can quickly reduce physical security risk without significant investment. Physical security works in layers, and no single measure should stand alone. This resource shares opportunities to help election offices build that layered approach from the outside in, without requiring specialized infrastructure.

This article from the Red Dot alert team outlines several techniques for de-escalating threatening situations and circumstances that might devolve into violence.

The Brennan Center for Justice and R Street Institute’s July 2025 report outlines a comprehensive framework for states to take the lead on election security amid diminishing federal support.

This archived guidebook from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) outlines the concept of Election Security Navigators, which are dedicated liaisons who reinforce or supplement election security efforts at the local and state levels.

The annual Brennan Center survey of local election officials reveals ongoing challenges in election administration, particularly loss of resources and insights from the federal government.

BDI has cataloged de-escalation resources and trainings to help organizations mitigate potential violence by empowering individuals to recognize and resolve escalating situations safely.

This website gathers together resources to support communities in preventing political violence and to respond to instances of violence.

Operational security (OPSEC) is a systematic process for identifying and protecting sensitive information, data, or capabilities within an organization.

In January 2017, the Department of Homeland Security officially designated elections as critical infrastructure, recognizing that our election infrastructure is of such vital importance to our nation that its incapacitation would have a devastating effect on the country.

The Committee for Safe and Secure Elections (CSSE) is a cross-sector collaboration of election officials, law enforcement, federal agencies, and nonpartisan organizations, working together to help protect election workers, voters, and infrastructure from threats, intimidation, and violence.