Washington - King County Elections
Program Title
Building Resiliency with an Alternate Fiber Route
Program Summary
The King County Elections Office added an alternate network routed fiber strand in 2024. Funded by HAVA Security Grant dollars, the additional fiber strand provides a secure, alternative routed connection, making the King County Elections Office prepared and able to serve voters if its first connection slows or stalls, whether due to a weather-related event, a human-caused event, or simple maintenance. This additional fiber strand does not traverse or cross any of the King County Elections Office primary networks and enters the building on the opposite side of primary routes to ensure maximum protection in case of an emergency. The King County Elections Office relies on consistent internet access via a secured network. From maintaining voter records and updating the election management system, to communicating with voters, most of the Countys Elections Office tasks require secure access to the internet. Particularly sensitive systems like the election management system can only be accessed through the secure, trusted network, making it extra critical to ensure a fast and functioning connection.