Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections

The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections, also known as the Hillsborough County SOE or Hillsborough County Elections Office, is responsible for administering elections within Hillsborough County, Florida. Its core functions encompass managing voter registration processes, overseeing the conduct of elections, and ensuring the integrity and security of the voting systems used within the county's jurisdiction. This includes tasks such as maintaining accurate voter rolls, preparing ballots, operating polling places during elections, training poll workers, and canvassing and certifying election results. The office serves the residents of Hillsborough County by facilitating their participation in the democratic process at local, state, and federal levels.

A critical aspect of the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections' mandate is safeguarding critical election infrastructure. The office operates distinct systems for voter registration and ballot tabulation, maintaining a deliberate separation between these functions for enhanced security. Notably, the ballot tabulation system is described as a stand-alone, air-gapped system, physically isolated from other networks to prevent remote cyber intrusions. This structural separation proved effective during a criminal cyber intrusion incident on May 3, 2023. In that incident, an unauthorized user illegally accessed files stored on a shared network drive within the organization's environment.

The May 2023 cyber intrusion did not compromise the integrity of the voter registration system or the isolated ballot tabulation system, demonstrating the effectiveness of the security segmentation. The incident involved unauthorized access to files on a networked drive, highlighting a vulnerability in non-critical infrastructure components. Upon discovery, the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections immediately notified law enforcement partners, including federal, state, and local agencies, initiating a thorough investigation into this attack targeting essential election infrastructure. This incident underscores the persistent cybersecurity threats faced by election administration bodies and the importance of robust protective measures and incident response protocols. The office's prompt engagement with law enforcement reflects its commitment to transparency and securing the electoral process against malicious actors.