Lessons from the 2026 Midterms and How to Prepare for the 2028 Election

The 2026 midterm elections have come and gone. But for the thousands of election officials, county clerks, poll workers, state agencies, law enforcement professionals, and technology partners who helped make them possible, the work is far from over.

First, a well-deserved thank you to the people across the country who dedicated countless hours to preparing for, administering, and securing our elections. Much of this work happens behind the scenes, and its importance cannot be overstated.

As election results continue through canvassing, audits, and certification, attention naturally turns to the outcomes. But there is another important conversation that deserves attention: What did we learn, and how can we be better prepared for 2028?

Why Is Election Security a Year-Round Responsibility?

Election infrastructure is one of our nation's critical infrastructure sectors, and protecting it requires much more than securing voting equipment. It involves:

• Cybersecurity
• Physical security
• Emergency preparedness
• Communications
• Continuity of operations 
• Coordination among local, state, and federal partners

These responsibilities don't disappear after Election Day. The period following an election provides an invaluable opportunity to assess what worked, identify gaps, and strengthen preparedness before the next election cycle begins.

What Should Election Officials Review After an Election?

Election officials and their partners should consider these four questions:

• Were our incident response and escalation procedures effective?
• Did communication and coordination work as expected among election officials, technology teams, emergency management, and law enforcement?
• Were contingency plans sufficient to address potential technology outages, physical disruptions, or misinformation?
• What new threats or operational challenges should we consider as we prepare for 2028?

Why Documenting Election Security Lessons Learned Matters

These conversations are important, but documenting what was learned is even more critical.

While experiences are still fresh, election officials and their partners should capture:

• What worked
• What didn't
• The challenges they encountered
• The improvements they want to make before the next election

Those lessons should become documented action items, with clear responsibilities and priorities, rather than conversations that are forgotten once election season ends. The work of preparing for 2028 should begin with what we learned in 2026 and any other local elections that will occur next year.

How Can Election Officials Prepare for 2028?

Technology and cyber threats will continue evolving. Artificial intelligence, increasingly sophisticated social engineering, and threats to essential infrastructure will introduce additional challenges for election officials responsible for maintaining secure, accessible, and resilient election operations.

The lessons from 2026 provide an opportunity to:

• Build on existing capabilities
• Update incident response and continuity of operations plans
• Strengthen partnerships across local, state and federal agencies
• Conduct exercises that prepare officials for increasingly complex scenarios

Supporting Election Officials Nationwide

As Ice Miller's Election Security Practice continues to grow, we look forward to supporting election officials and government leaders nationwide. By bringing together cybersecurity, emergency preparedness, operational resilience, and legal expertise, our team is committed to helping communities navigate these evolving challenges and prepare for what comes next. Contact our team to get started.

This publication is intended for general information purposes only and does not and is not intended to constitute legal advice. The reader should consult with legal counsel to determine how laws or decisions discussed herein apply to the reader's specific circumstances.