Through our Prompts in Practice series, we explore how AI tools can transform routine administrative tasks into structured, ready-to-use election resources. Today, we apply that same principle to continuity planning – a longstanding and ongoing priority for election offices – following the Center for Tech and Civic Life’s recent release of Fostering Resilient Elections: Opportunities for Stronger Election Administration and Emergency Management Collaboration.
That report underscored the need for election offices to build continuity and resilience before a crisis. To demonstrate how AI can help, we generated a nearly complete Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) for the fictional Concord County using two foundational resources:
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s Continuity of Operations Plan Template (2023)
FEMA’s National Incident Management System (NIMS) Doctrine (2017), which outlines the national standard for command, coordination, and resource management.
If you create a COOP or similar planning product using this approach, we strongly encourage you to share it with your public safety and emergency management partners. Walking through the plan together — even in a short tabletop or discussion-based exercise — can clarify roles, build relationships, and surface improvements long before they’re needed.
Prompts in Practice
Use Case / Purpose
Generate a draft Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) for Concord County’s election office by merging the EAC’s 2023 COOP template with FEMA’s 2017 NIMS guidance to ensure operational alignment with national emergency management standards.
Audience
Election officials who want to develop or modernize their COOP plan with minimal setup and clear integration into the NIMS framework.
Timing
Ideal for pre-election readiness reviews or annual emergency management updates.
Sources
AI Tool Used
ChatGPT 5 (Plus Version)
Prompt
Create a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) for the Concord County Election Office using the attached EAC COOP Template (2023) and FEMA’s National Incident Management System (2017). The plan should ensure essential election functions, such as ballot processing, vote-by-mail operations, and results reporting, can continue or quickly resume after a disruption. Incorporate NIMS principles like the ICS command structure, resource management, and communications protocols. Write in clear, professional language suitable for official use, with placeholders for Concord County details, and format the output for easy export.
Output
AI Use Safety Signal
🟢 Green (Go)
This prompt combines public-domain templates and federal guidance, producing structured outputs that can significantly reduce administrative drafting time. However, election officials must review, localize, and verify all content with their emergency management partners and legal counsel before adoption, and should avoid uploading any personally identifiable information (PII) or sensitive operational details when using AI tools.
Originally posted on the AI and Elections Substack, November 5, 2025. Read the original ↗