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Bill

Bill

SB 2096

MDITS and SOS; require to establish minimum cybersecurity standards for SEMS.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bart Williams

Mississippi requires election system cybersecurity standards to protect voting infrastructure from cyber threats and safeguard electoral integrity.

Passed As Amended
#apportionmentandelections #elections
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Bill Summary · SB 2096

Legislative bill overview

SB 2096 requires Mississippi's Department of Information Technology Services (MDITS) and Secretary of State (SOS) to establish and implement minimum cybersecurity standards for Statewide Election Management Systems (SEMS). The bill mandates security protocols to protect election infrastructure from cyber threats and data breaches.

Why is this important

Election systems are critical infrastructure vulnerable to cyberattacks that could compromise vote integrity and public confidence in electoral processes. Establishing baseline cybersecurity standards helps protect against both external threats and vulnerabilities that could be exploited to manipulate voting systems or steal voter data.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs: Upgrading election systems to meet new cybersecurity standards may require significant state and county funding, potentially straining election budgets
  • Technical feasibility: Coordinating standards across multiple counties with varying IT capabilities and legacy systems could prove challenging
  • Specificity concerns: The bill's language on what constitutes "minimum standards" may be too vague or, conversely, too prescriptive to be practically implemented

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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