Drones in Election Settings: A Law Enforcement Briefing

This guide is part of the CSSE Briefings for Law Enforcement Officers series, aimed at helping law enforcement understand what makes election settings unique—and how those differences should help shape response.

Drones in Election Settings: A Law Enforcement Briefing is a guide for law enforcement agencies and election officials outlining preparation for, and response to, drone activity at polling places and other election facilities. The resource explains what makes election environments unique and how those considerations can inform existing drone incident response protocols.

Using CSSE’s Five Steps to Safer Elections—Meet, Share, Agree, Plan, Practice—the briefing document creates a framework for coordination before an incident occurs. It outlines election-specific concerns including protected voting-site perimeters, local and federal drone regulations, airspace restrictions, incident command, threat assessment, and communication with drone operators.

The guide offers clear recommendations for incorporating drone incidents into broader election security and emergency response planning. It helps establish roles and procedures, develop incident classification and reporting protocols, understanding of local airspace, and practicing coordinated responses.

This resource is intended for law enforcement leaders, election officials, emergency managers, and public safety professionals seeking practical guidance on drone security, election security planning, and interagency coordination.