Election security experts say the most immediate threats to the 2026 midterms come not from voting machines, but from the digital infrastructure surrounding campaigns, fundraising platforms, and local government systems. A new report from cybersecurity firm Check Point reveals that foreign adversaries are already laying groundwork through phishing attacks, AI-generated deception, and credential theft targeting the trusted accounts and platforms that election organizations depend on.

What Are Hackers Actually Targeting in the 2026 Midterms?

While concerns about hacking voting machines dominate political headlines, the real vulnerability lies elsewhere. Check Point found that attackers are more likely to exploit the infrastructure around elections rather than the machines themselves. This includes campaign accounts, fundraising platforms like ActBlue and WinRed, party websites, and local government systems.

The firm discovered exposed credentials tied to major political platforms. Roughly 9,500 credentials linked to ActBlue, the Democratic fundraising platform, and 6,500 linked to WinRed, its Republican counterpart, were found exposed. Smaller volumes of compromised credentials were also identified for gop.com, democrats.org, and usa.gov.

Check Point also observed sustained infrastructure creation in early 2026. Between January and May, the firm identified approximately 1,300 newly registered domains containing the keyword "election" and nearly 3,000 containing "vote" in January alone. Between mid-April and mid-May, about 1,140 new domains with "election" and roughly 4,000 with "vote" were registered. While domain registration alone doesn't prove malicious intent, these registrations expand the pool of web infrastructure that could later be weaponized for phishing, fake donation pages, or impersonation campaigns.

How Is Artificial Intelligence Making Election Threats Worse?

Artificial intelligence is dramatically amplifying the scale and sophistication of election interference. AI tools allow foreign actors to create more convincing phishing lures, cloned audio, manipulated images, and deepfake videos that can spread confusion and erode public trust in elections.

"Now that we're in the age of AI, it can consume and take so much data and learn so much about us that it can generate things that are believable, not just things that are like a phishing email, but content that's shared on social media or deepfake videos that are getting harder and harder to actually tell what they truly are," said Aaron Rose, a security expert with Check Point Software.

Aaron Rose, Security Expert, Check Point Software Technologies

The threat extends beyond technical attacks. A PBS News poll from March found that 85 percent of registered voters believe it is likely that political content generated by AI will spread misinformation related to the upcoming November elections. This psychological dimension of election interference may be more damaging than direct technical attacks, as it can sway voters without requiring sophisticated hacking.

Which Countries Are Posing the Biggest Threat?

Check Point identified Russia, Iran, and China as the principal state actors to monitor for election interference in 2026. These adversaries have clear objectives: either steer election outcomes in their favor or cause confusion and erode public trust in the electoral process. By spreading misinformation and creating doubt, they can influence election results without needing to compromise voting machines at scale.

"If they can just confuse, I don't know, 10,000 voters maybe in a swing state or area, that alone could shape and change the outcome of the election," explained Aaron Rose.

Aaron Rose, Security Expert, Check Point Software Technologies

Why Are Local Governments Especially Vulnerable?

Local governments and smaller municipalities face disproportionate cybersecurity risks. These jurisdictions often operate with fewer resources, older technology, and smaller security teams compared to federal agencies. Check Point cited recent ransomware incidents affecting Winona County, Minnesota, and Foster City, California, as examples of how municipal cyberattacks can disrupt public services and erode trust in government systems.

Even when election operations are not directly affected, disruption at the local government level can still create confusion, delay public communications, and undermine confidence during politically sensitive periods. This makes smaller jurisdictions attractive targets for adversaries seeking to amplify election-related chaos.

Steps to Protect Election Infrastructure and Voter Trust

• Implement Multi-Layered Security Controls: Jurisdictions and election organizations should deploy comprehensive cybersecurity controls across all areas, including physical access controls to prevent unauthorized entry to critical systems and facilities.
• Verify Information Before Sharing: Individual voters should pause before reposting news stories on social media. Check the source's reputation, examine the URL to ensure it is legitimate, and verify the information through multiple credible outlets before sharing with others.
• Monitor Credential Exposure: Election organizations should regularly audit and monitor for exposed credentials tied to their platforms, fundraising systems, and public-facing websites, implementing password resets and multi-factor authentication where breaches are detected.
• Educate Staff and Communities: Provide cybersecurity awareness training to election workers and public education campaigns to help voters recognize phishing attempts, deepfakes, and AI-generated misinformation that could influence their voting decisions.

What Role Are Social Media Companies Playing?

Social media platforms are beginning to take steps to combat election misinformation, though challenges remain significant. Aaron Rose noted that platforms are increasingly applying labels to videos and images that may be AI-generated, and several platforms now use community notes that allow users to validate facts. However, there is no single solution to the problem of election-related misinformation and disinformation.

The challenge is multifaceted. It involves not only technical detection of manipulated content but also addressing the psychological vulnerabilities that make people susceptible to misinformation. As AI tools become more sophisticated, the task of distinguishing authentic content from synthetic material becomes increasingly difficult for both platforms and voters.

How Can Families Prepare for AI-Era Election Threats?

The election security challenge extends beyond government and campaign infrastructure to individual households. As cybersecurity threats become more sophisticated, experts increasingly argue that digital resilience must begin long before people enter the workplace. KnowBe4, a cybersecurity education provider, recently launched CAPY, a free online platform designed to help families build cybersecurity skills in an era of phishing attacks, deepfakes, cyberbullying, and AI-powered scams.

The platform addresses emerging risks including AI-generated deepfakes, with approximately 1.2 million children having reported their images manipulated into deepfakes, while 40 percent say they have communicated with strangers online. By educating families about these threats, communities can build broader resilience against election interference that relies on social engineering and psychological manipulation.

As the 2026 midterms approach, the consensus among cybersecurity experts is clear: the greatest threats to election integrity are not technical vulnerabilities in voting machines, but rather the human and organizational vulnerabilities that surround the electoral process. Protecting elections requires a combination of technical controls, public education, and vigilant monitoring of the infrastructure that election organizations depend on to operate and maintain public trust.