Norfolk ups security protection for fall election

Luke Edwards

Grant Haven Media

With cybersecurity an ongoing concern, Norfolk County is planning enhanced security measures in this fall’s municipal elections.

Councillors approved a report at the June 23 meeting recommending an $8,300 increase in the online voting services portion of the 2026 budget to allow staff to implement the enhanced measures.

County clerk William Tigert said cyber attacks continue to be a concern.

“It’s posing risks across all organizations and sectors,” he said.

In 2026 budget deliberations councillors approved $120,000 for online voting services in preparation of the October election. The slight bump will allow them to use a multi-factor authentication process that would be familiar to those who use online banking or other online financial services. 

“This additional authentication step would strengthen election security, reduce the risk of unauthorized access, and align the voting experience with security practices commonly used by financial institutions, government agencies, and Norfolk County systems,” the staff report said.

Users would require a cell phone, where they would receive a confirmation code they’d need to input. The report acknowledged this could be a barrier for some, but that the safety benefits are worth it.

In the meantime, Tigert said his office is continuing education plans ahead of the election to inform residents of their options, which will include both in-person and online voting.