# CISA Releases 2026 Election Security Plan

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released its 2026 Election Infrastructure Security Plan 40 days before the November 3, 2026 midterm elections, outlining cyber and physical threats to election systems and offering voluntary, no-cost cybersecurity services to state and local election officials. This plan aims to enhance threat sharing, vulnerability assessments, and technical training despite recent reductions in CISA's election security funding and workforce. However, many state officials criticize the timing and sufficiency of federal support, noting prior funding cuts have led them to rely more heavily on private cybersecurity vendors. Procurement professionals and contractors specializing in election infrastructure protection and cybersecurity services should evaluate emerging opportunities to support federal-state-local coordination and election security enhancements ahead of the midterms.

- **Key agencies involved:** CISA under the Department of Homeland Security leads federal election cybersecurity efforts, coordinating with state and local election offices nationwide.
- **Why this matters:** Reduced federal funding and staffing have constrained CISA's capacity, increasing demand for private sector cybersecurity solutions in election infrastructure protection.
- **Actionable insights:** Contractors should consider offering services aligned with CISA's free offerings such as threat intelligence sharing, vulnerability assessments, and technical training to state and local election officials.
- **Timing considerations:** With the plan released less than six weeks before the midterms, rapid engagement and deployment capabilities will be critical for vendors seeking to support election security efforts in this compressed timeframe.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Public Safety, Information Technology
**Topics:** Cybersecurity, Policy, Regulatory Compliance, Contracting Vehicles
**Published:** September 27, 2026

### Government Entities
- Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC)
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)

### Vendors
- All Voting Is Local (subcontractor)

### Key Quotes
> The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has published its 2026 Election Infrastructure Security Plan, which describes the cyber and physical threats facing election systems and the free services CISA offers to election officials and other partners.
> — Original poster

> Secretaries of state have already moved on and sought other partners and other resources for the services that CISA has retreated from over the last year and a half.
> — Scott Simon, Secretary of State, Minnesota

> Ensuring the integrity of our elections is essential to preserving trust in American democracy.
> — Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of Homeland Security

### Sources
- [California U.S. Senator Padilla on Trump Administration’s Last Minute Election Security Plan, Says, “Election Security Staff Has Been Fired And Funding For State And Local Election Officials Has Been Cut, Allowing Mis- And Disinformation To Run Rampant”](https://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/local-news/81987-california-u-s-senator-padilla-on-trump-administration-s-last-minute-election-security-plan-says-election-security-staff-has-been-fired-and-funding-for-state-and-local-election-officials-has-been-cut-allowing-mis-and-disinformation-to-run-rampant) - goldrushcam.com
- [Cybersecurity agency releases 2026 election integrity plan | Just The News](https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/elections/cybersecurity-agency-releases-2026-election-integrity-plan) - Just The News
- [CISA pledges election security support after cuts weakened ties with states - Nextgov/FCW](https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/09/cisa-pledges-election-security-support-after-cuts-weakened-ties-states/416194) - Nextgov/FCW