State IT Teams Run Election Technology Systems
Secretary of state offices and state IT agencies share responsibility for election infrastructure, cybersecurity, and results reporting across several states.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Election systems often fall under IT departments within secretaries of state offices, which also handle business licensing, corporate filings, and public digital services. Missouri, Connecticut, Nevada, and Pennsylvania illustrate how state technology agencies and secretary of state staff divide these responsibilities.
Why it matters
Election technology depends on coordination between secretary of state offices and central state IT agencies for security, network infrastructure, and Election Day operations. Understanding who runs these systems helps explain how states protect election results and websites.
Pennsylvania's Office of Administration received $30 million in state cybersecurity funding, $10 million annually across three fiscal years, to support election system protection. The extraction does not show how the money has been allocated or whether funding will continue after that period.
The players
Pennsylvania Office of Administration
The state agency that helps maintain, host, and support Pennsylvania's election results website and receives state cybersecurity funding.
Missouri Secretary of State
The state office that runs its own IT department responsible for election technology and infrastructure.
The details
Missouri's Secretary of State maintains its own IT department for election technology, and its CIO team works with that staff on Election Day to manage traffic, security, and communications. Connecticut's separately elected Secretary of the State runs its own technology, while the state CIO office conducts tabletop exercises with it. In Nevada, the Secretary of State leads election operations while the Government Technology Office manages the SilverNet network.
Timeline
Months before November: Pennsylvania begins coordinating election system preparation each year.
Tuesday: Arizona holds its general election using a new Enhanced Results reporting system.
Last year: A cyberattack defaced Arizona's online candidate portal.
Seasonal Patterns
Arizona's rollout of its Enhanced Results reporting system follows a cyberattack that defaced its online candidate portal last year. The state's change illustrates how states are reworking election-night reporting after security incidents.
Voters in states like Pennsylvania and Missouri rely on secure results websites and network systems that are maintained by state IT staff. Changes to these systems can affect how quickly and reliably results appear on election night.
The takeaway
Election results reach the public through a chain of state technology teams and secretary of state offices, so their coordination matters on election night. Watching which office runs which system can help readers know where to look for accurate information.
Further reading
Explore more on Elections to see how states prepare their voting systems ahead of November.
Source note: This article includes information reported by StateScoop.
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