Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has been working steadily to provide guidance meant to increase security for our elections. He has so far provided six security directives to county boards of elections.

Most recently was a set of requirements to configure networks, firewalls, vulnerability assessment tools and equipment with the most recent approved security updates; complete monthly cybersecurity checklists to ensure protection from malicious threats; a county-specific security audit led by his office’s chief information security officer and cybersecurity team; and compliance with enhanced physical security requirements, including proper equipment storage, video surveillance and bipartisan access protocols.

“Threats change daily, and we’re constantly adapting our protocols to stay ahead of the bad guys,” LaRose said. “We’ve positioned Ohio as the national leader on election integrity, and this new directive demonstrates our ongoing commitment to safeguarding our voting equipment and the systems that support it.”

It’s not exactly glamorous, but it is exactly the kind of work that is vital to ensuring elections produce an accurate picture of what Ohio voters intend for the future of our state. We toss around phrases such as “free and fair elections,” but safeguarding them is vital — and not always simple or easy.

“Every day, we see reports of public and private systems being compromised, and we have to stay vigilant,” LaRose said. “The work our security teams are doing is making a real difference, and this updated guidance should reassure voters that we take seriously our duty to keep Ohio’s elections accurate, accountable and secure.”

County boards of elections take those responsibilities seriously, too. Working together, they and LaRose’s office seem to be making significant strides toward fulfilling them.