Security Measures Put In Place To Protect Poll Workers In Anticipation Of Violence

Elections offices in the US have toughened their security measures this year in anticipation of potential violence amid a rise in threats and harassment focused on election workers.

- Rachel Leingang

Many offices have trained workers on de-escalation tactics and run drills for active shooters or other disturbances. They have a process for flagging threats that could be criminal and seeking law enforcement help when needed.

Hundreds of election offices have been reinforced with bulletproof glass and steel doors. Some have increased their security teams or locked down social media accounts. New laws to protect staff from harassment have added to the response to the increased hostility.

The authorities are concerned about the rise of the rightwing election denial movement, after Donald Trump's rejection of his defeat by Joe Biden in 2020. Trump's propagation of unfounded theories regarding the election mobilized large crowds to participate in "stop the steal" protests, which reached a climax on 6 January 2021, when his supporters stormed the US Capitol in an attempt to impede Congress's certification of the electoral college vote.

Trump has not committed to accepting the outcome this time, claiming without evidence that Democrats will cheat to install his opponent, Kamala Harris.