Nevada Secretary of State, "2018 HAVA Election Security Grant Project Narrative." July 2018. Unclassified.

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by  2018-07-00

2018 HAVA Election Security Grant Project Narrative

re) Nevada Secretary of State, Barbara K. Cegavske
8

uly

‘The following project narmative describes how the Ortice of the Nevada Secretary of State plans 10 use the
$4.277,723,00 award and $213,886.00 required matching funds. This narrative includes the timeframe far the
use of tae funds, as wel as the immediate and long-term setivities/improvements. It also includes a description
ofthe allocation and expenditure ofthe required matching funds,

Yoting Equipment Replacement and Upziades
in 2017, all af Nevada's local clection officials purchased new voting equipment. The old voting equipment fd
surpassed is usuble Hie, Due to the lacle of available of puts und functionality itasions, a new syste wis
purchased during State Fiseal Year 2018, As such, 2018 IIAVA Election Security Grant funds will not be used
lo purchase voting equipment. A portion of this expense will go towards the State Match Requizement as an i
kind contribution. Please see the Narrative section regarding the State Match Requirement,

tection Auditing.
Nevada currenly has standard post-election auditing. This category will use grant funds to expand upon current
practices and procedures, as well a utilize industry hest practices within the state. For example, the Secretary of
Slate will hire a full-time position dedicated to improving the administration of federal elections through local
election official procedure audits, in conjunction with review’ and improvemeat of state guidance of clectios
procedures. «A majority ef Nevads's local clection ofcisls aro part-time clection administrators, and ths
improvement of definod and well-rounded state guidance will enhance the integrity and uniformity of
1dministration of elections for federal office at the loca level. More robust post-election auditing will also be
undertaken using the grant funds,

state
Election Sevurily Grant will provide for significant enhancements and upgrades. Such activities and
‘mprovements include the addition of fearures that align the wea-based system with modem security concerns,
such as muki-factor authentiation. In addition to paysical system improvements, funds will provide for user
‘raining, Local election officials will undergo a Sceretary of State evaluation and training before the issuance of
access ccedentials, Such assessment will include a nseds-based analysis in addition to system-role limitations.

‘The addition ofa full-time position will provide the Secretary of State with the bandwidth necessary to achieve
the nbove goals, This position will faeas an improving che security ef and data in the statewide system and the
proceduses for data management and maintenance socording to federal and stale requirements. This is
especially helpful as Nevada utilizes a bottom-up system where focal election officials manage and maintain a
county voter registration system that leeds haleh data into the statewide system to comply with federsl
requirements, This system model has elevated date and sccurity concems, This position will sige'ficantly
‘mitigate these concerns through analysis nd pracess review:

Lastly, the availablity ofa voters registration record for eview and editing by the registrant provides for better
datg accuracy and management, The Secretary of State currently provides this functionality to registered voters
amid a variety of different systems. Grant furds will provide for the development of single point of access fir
volers to wecess und manage their Voter seqistation record, Lhis voter information portal diectly eowtsibutes to
2018 HAVA Bleetion Security Grant
Bodget Narative

July 2018

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the security and improvement of clections through inereased transparency of voter registration information - the
‘basis fora clean and seoure election. A single point of access also allows for the consolidation of data security
‘mechanisms into one system.

(Ceber Vulnerabilities
One of the immediate actions taken will include the evaluation of stato and local deta snd system management.
Due to the physieal design and placement of voter registration sa voting systerm, the slate plans to use grant
finds to contract with government and private entities for review, analysis, and improvement of procedures and
practices for administering these systems. In addition to the proactive measures, the Secretary of State will
st in strategic alliances for rctoactive review of systems to determine previous penetration setivity or
attempts and dormant files detection. This eategory will also provide for the establishment of precedures for
local elestion official training, with emphasis an éybewsecurity awareness.

Tosining

The Secretary of State will use expenditures within this eateyory Jo provide siete and Local election ofticials
with suf? development and taining. These activities will improve the administration of elections for federal
office and election security through access to new and additional resources, including the exposure of lacal
election officals to resources and gonversations available to state and federal election officials.

Communication

‘The Secretary of State will use a nominal portion ofthe gran funds to inctease public awareness regarding local
and state resources available to registered voters to access, review, and secure thelr voter registration record,
Additional voter education will include increased public awareness about the measures taken by local and state
lection officals to collect, secure, and maintain voter registration and voting systems.

‘This category will include three subsections: (1) coumty voter registation database security; (2} ballot and
‘ating equipment security enhancements; and (3) improvements to the administration of clections for federal
office. These grants will require local election officials to demonstrate need and local sustainability. Database
security grants will Hkely include, but are not Kiited to, the implementacon of intrusion deteetion systems and
conte. Ballot und voting equipment security grants will asst loal election officials with the improvement
‘of physical and electronic seourity proctices forthe voting systems, such as the tamper evident security seals
physical sourity mechanisms, and video surveillance. Grants forthe improvement of the administration of
federal elections will provide Jocal election officals with the ability fo make proposals regarding sclf-
assessment of local conccms and isaucs. Grants wil also serve as the basi for potential best paces and or
smandazory requirements for other election ji

Reguined State Match
‘The Secretary of State will allocate $213,886.00 of the State finds expended on replocement voting equipment
asan in-kind match equal tothe arvount required by the 2018 TIAVA Election Security Grant.
2018 HAVA ELECTION SECURITY GRANT

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