New INFORMS Operations Research Study Key Takeaways:
- Optimized testing catches vote-swapping errors: New testing method identifies misconfigurations before elections.
- Stronger security at minimal cost: A 1.2% increase in test ballots in Michigan’s 2022 election significantly improved security.
- Proven, practical solution: Successfully piloted in Michigan, this low-cost method offers scalable approach to safeguard election integrity.
BALTIMORE, MD, May 1, 2025 – As federal support for election security faces major cutbacks, a groundbreaking study in the INFORMS journal Operations Research introduces a scientifically backed, low-cost solution to strengthen the integrity of U.S. elections.
The study, “Improving the Security of United States Elections with Robust Optimization,” presents a novel approach that helps detect vulnerabilities in voting machines before ballots are cast. Developed in collaboration with the Michigan Bureau of Elections, the method equips election officials with a practical strategy to detect important kinds of attacks and human error in vote counting – without placing additional strain on already limited budgets.
“As federal support for election security diminishes, it’s imperative that we find practical solutions to safeguard our democratic processes,” says co-author Bradley Sturt of the University of Illinois Chicago. “Our method enhances preelection testing without imposing significant financial burdens on local jurisdictions.”
Enhancing a Century-Old Practice with Modern Science
Logic and Accuracy Testing (LAT), a preelection verification process used for over 100 years and required by law in all 50 states, has never been systematically optimized to address modern cybersecurity risks – until now. By applying advanced robust optimization techniques, the researchers designed smarter test decks that can detect programming errors capable of causing vote-swapping between candidates.
Retrospective analysis of all 6,928 ballot styles from Michigan’s 2022 general election revealed that this new method required just a 1.2% increase in test ballots yet yielded significant improvements in security.
“Our approach modernizes a longstanding procedure, making it more effective against today’s sophisticated threats without adding significant costs,” notes Sturt.
Election Integrity Amid Federal Funding Cuts
The recent downsizing of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has left state election officials grappling with how to maintain election integrity amid shrinking federal resources. This study arrives at a critical time, offering a feasible alternative for local governments striving to ensure secure elections.
“With federal resources dwindling, state and local officials must adopt innovative, cost-effective measures to ensure secure elections,” emphasizes Sturt. “Our research can fill part of that gap.”
Field-Tested, Ready for National Adoption
Successfully piloted by the Michigan Bureau of Elections, this optimized testing approach has demonstrated its practicality and effectiveness – offering a scalable, evidence-based tool to enhance election integrity and bolster public confidence nationwide, at minimal cost and without disrupting current workflows.
About INFORMS and Operations Research
INFORMS is the world’s largest association for professionals and students in operations research (O.R.), AI, analytics, data science and related disciplines, serving as a global authority in advancing cutting-edge practices and fostering an interdisciplinary community of innovation. Operations Research, a leading INFORMS journal, publishes high-quality papers that represent the true breadth of the methodologies and applications that define O.R. INFORMS empowers its community to enhance organizational performance and drive data-driven decision-making through its journals and resources. Learn more at www.informs.org or @informs.
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