Ohio is bolstering election security with a $10,000 grant for each county amid rising cyber threats linked to the Iran war.
TOLEDO, Ohio — Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced a security directive on Tuesday that provides every county with a $10,000 grant to strengthen protections at local polling locations. The order comes in response to a recent increase in terror attacks across the nation since the start of the U.S.–Iran war, according to LaRose.
“This directive ensures our cybersecurity defenses remain strong so voters can continue to have confidence in the integrity of our elections,” LaRose said in a statement.
The funding will support several security upgrades, including expanded network monitoring, advanced threat‑detection tools, secure backups of critical data and ongoing response drills for election staff.
This year’s audit will also review each county’s plan for responding to any cyber incidents.
LaVera Scott, director of the Lucas County Board of Elections, says the renewed focus on cybersecurity is necessary but not cause for alarm.
“Anytime we hear the word, ‘cyberattacks,’ of course we’re going to be concerned,” she said.
Scott said staying vigilant is key and Ohio election workers complete state‑required cybersecurity training twice a year.
“Everybody should always be on high notice,” she said.
While state officials focus on virtual threats, some advocacy groups point to additional concerns heading into this year’s elections.
Ohio’s voter ID law, House Bill 458, took effect in 2023 and requires stricter forms of photo identification at the polls.
The League of Women Voters of Ohio said the change contributed to a nearly fivefold increase in rejected provisional ballots last year.
“Participating in civic life should bring pride and satisfaction, but when we make it this hard, the result is that many eligible voters are unable to participate,” said League of Women Voters of Ohio spokesperson Elisabeth Warner.
For voters still uneasy about election security, they should get involved as a poll worker, according to Scott.
“Seeing the safeguards and the fact that we work in a bipartisan fashion helps people understand what actually happens on Election Day,” she said.
