Carney authorizes National Guard to help with election security
Gov. John Carney signed Executive Order 46 Oct. 16 authorizing the Delaware National Guard’s 166th Cyberspace Operations Squadron to assist in 2020 election security efforts. The squadron’s cybersecurity capabilities will help with protecting Delaware’s elections infrastructure, Carney said.
“Voting is our most fundamental right as Delawareans and Americans, and we will not take for granted the right to cast a vote and to have that vote counted,” Carney said. “Throughout our country’s history, Americans have sacrificed to secure voting rights for our fellow citizens. We have an obligation to take additional steps to protect that right from any cyber threats. This executive order is a proactive measure to do just that.”
The squadron is authorized to work with the Delaware Department of Elections and the Delaware Department of Technology and Information in order to avoid the threat of cybersecurity attacks on Delaware’s 2020 elections, which includes:
- Providing advice to DTI to prevent, protect and defend against cyber incidents
- Monitoring and analyzing risks or threats
- Offering technical and architectural review support for best practices
- Responding to any incidents
- Training and support after the election.
