Arizona Secretary of State Honored with National Clearinghouse Award for Outstanding Innovation in Election Cybersecurity and Technology
PHOENIX – The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) recognized the Arizona Secretary of State's Office for excellence in election administration with a national Clearinghouse Award for Outstanding Innovation in Election Cybersecurity and Technology. This prestigious recognition is part of the annual awards program known as the “Clearies.”
Secretary Fontes signals the importance of the AI TTX stating, “Advances in AI and deepfake technology heighten the potential for chaos. This national recognition reaffirms that we are committed to whatever challenges may come our way in maintaining the integrity and security of elections in Arizona.”
The award-winning AI TTX is Arizona's first-of-its-kind election security tabletop training exercise. It features deepfake and other AI disruptions, aimed at increasing readiness and resilience in protecting Arizona's election infrastructure. Our exercise packages are tailored for county leaders, law enforcement officials, and media partners involved in safeguarding elections—including stakeholders like election directors, recorders, supervisors, and IT experts—the training exposed participants to realistic scenarios and challenges such as cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and natural disasters.
This innovative program was recognized among 32 other programs honored for their contributions to election administration during the 2023 elections. Representatives from prominent technology firms, including OpenAI, Institute for the Future, and Microsoft joined government officials in the training to share insights on the impact of emerging technologies on election security.
The Clearie Awards are a key part of the EAC's mission under the Help America Vote Act, focusing on innovation, sustainability, outreach, cost-effectiveness, replicability, and generating positive results. The awards celebrate the hard work and innovative spirit of election offices across the country.
More information about the Clearies and details on each awardee can be found on eac.gov
For further details on the our TTX programming, view the December 2023 event slides here
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