Scientists back election protection push ahead of November 2026 vote

Emergency Management Training and Consulting is joining the Union of Concerned Scientists and Protect Democracy to support the Science Rising Ambassadors program for U.S. elections. The effort aims to help scientists support election officials, report problems and strengthen election continuity before the Nov. 3, 2026 election and beyond.

Why it matters: - The Science Rising Ambassadors program is aimed at strengthening election protection by mobilizing scientists as trusted messengers in their communities. - The effort is designed to help local election officials, support voters who encounter problems and improve election continuity ahead of the Nov. 3, 2026 election. - The push frames election protection as part of emergency management and continuity planning, not just election administration.

What happened: - Emergency Management Training and Consulting said it is participating with the Union of Concerned Scientists and Protect Democracy in backing the Science Rising Ambassadors program. - The program supports scientists who advocate for election protection and help voters report issues. - The release identifies social scientists as part of the effort because they research and advocate for emergency management solutions to community threats and hazards. - Michael Prasad, senior research analyst at Barton Dunant, said he has spent several years advocating for the U.S. election process to be integrated into the nation’s emergency-management framework. - Prasad said elections are essential to continuity of government and warned that threats against the system have increased annually. - Prasad said foreign adversaries have tried to exploit election systems to divide Americans, undermine public confidence and advance their strategic interests.

The details: - The release says local elections should be incorporated into local emergency management. - It says a comprehensive approach should connect election operations with continuity, critical-infrastructure and emergency-management practices. - The election systems that need protection include voter-registration databases, polling places, voting equipment, ballot storage, tabulation, audits, reporting and certification. - The release says those systems can be disrupted by a power outage, cyber incident, severe weather, threats against workers or false information about how to vote. - The article cited in Homeland Security Today is available here. - The release says protecting election continuity requires more than securing individual machines or facilities. - Election officials are urged to understand how personnel, technology, records, communications, utilities, vendors and outside partners work together. - The recommended framework is an all-hazards approach covering preparedness, prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery. - The release calls for election officials and emergency managers to 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 should cover the full election cycle, from registration and ballot distribution through counting, canvassing, audits, certification and any runoffs. - The release says threats and disruptions can happen at any point, including after polls close. - State and local election authorities remain responsible for administering elections. - Federal partners can provide intelligence, technical assistance, coordination and consequence-management resources when local capacity is not enough. - The release says clearly defined roles established before Election Day make federal support more effective.

Between the lines: - The argument here is that election security looks more like disaster readiness than a narrow IT or polling-place problem. - The release broadens the definition of election resilience to include people, infrastructure, communications and recovery planning. - That framing could push more local governments to fold elections into existing emergency-management structures. - Allie Cashel, organizing and campaign strategist at Protect Democracy, said elections run on neighbors and that everyone can do something to help the community vote.

What's next: - Voters who see or experience intimidation, interference or other threats can call the nonpartisan Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). - Protect Democracy directs people to its election-protection resources at How you can protect democracy and Election Protection. - The Union of Concerned Scientists says its “Protect the Vote in November 2026” efforts are available here. - The release says election resilience requires protecting election workers, sustaining the systems they use and communicating reliably with the public when emergencies or adversaries threaten the process.

The bottom line: - The coalition is pushing a simple message: election protection is an emergency-management problem, and planning for it should start before Election Day.