Drones, snipers, razor wire, sniffer dogs, body armor, bulletproof glass, and around-the-clock armed security measures.
This is not a comprehensive list of protective measures for a visit from the President of the United States, nor is it related to supplies sent to troops on the front lines in Ukraine. Rather, it details the stringent security protocols that election officials in various counties across the United States have had to adopt as they prepare for the upcoming election due to the unprecedented threats they have encountered in recent times.
While officials are typically focused on the usual final preparations to guarantee a seamless election, such as ensuring sufficient ballots and operational machines, they now also have to keep an eye out for potential threats and take every precaution to safeguard themselves and their teams.
“In light of the current political atmosphere, the likelihood of an incident occurring has risen, prompting our election professionals to take appropriate action,” remarks Tammy Patrick, a former election official from Maricopa County in Arizona and now a senior adviser to the nonprofit Bolstering Elections Initiative. “It is increasingly common to see measures aimed at securing the physical safety of voters, election personnel, and staff, which include bulletproof glass, panic buttons, razor wire, and fencing. Additionally, the setup of surveillance systems, cyber protections, and training focused on de-escalation techniques and emergency response drills is also prevalent.”
Nowhere in the United States is the militarization of the election process more apparent than in Maricopa County.
As the fourth largest county in the country, Maricopa has become a focal point for election denial conspiracies in recent years, particularly following a questionable recount sanctioned by GOP lawmakers in 2021, which was conducted by the Florida-based company Cyber Ninjas.
In response, the county has been implementing heightened security protocols. “We’re a fortress now,” Stephen Richer, the Maricopa County Recorder, expressed to WIRED earlier this year, describing the extensive security measures he must navigate, including security fencing, metal detectors, and various security checks just to access his office.
With the 2024 election on the horizon, the security measures being deployed by Maricopa officials have increased considerably.
In response to increasing security concerns, officials have implemented an additional layer of fencing around election offices, alongside concrete k-rails. This has led to the decision to bus election workers from offsite locations, as parking availability is significantly reduced. At the tabulation center, every entry point will be equipped with metal detectors, and floodlights will be installed to enhance visibility. On election day, heightened security measures will include a perimeter of snipers stationed on the rooftops of the building, as outlined by officials speaking to NBC.
Additionally, there will be mounted police ready outside the premises, continuous armed security presence, and drones actively monitoring the vicinity for any potential threats. The entire election office building is outfitted with security cameras that stream live footage online, enhancing transparency about the election process.
“The security and safety of our elections and those that help conduct them are paramount in ensuring a smooth election process,” noted Taylor Kinnerup, communications director for the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office, in an interview with WIRED. “Since January of 2021, our office has increased badge security access, installed permanent barriers, and added additional cybersecurity measures based on the recommendations of law enforcement and other experts.”
The surge in threats directed towards election workers has been notably pronounced following the 2020 election, primarily fueled by Donald Trump’s unfounded claims regarding election fraud. Although the frequency of such threats temporarily diminished between election cycles, they have resurged in recent months.
Earlier this month, WIRED highlighted that the Department of Homeland Security has issued a series of reports to government agencies indicating an “increased risk” of attacks by right-wing extremists surrounding the upcoming election.
Recently, the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force announced charges against four individuals for threats directed at election officials. “It is beyond comprehension and completely unacceptable that election workers must worry about their safety,” said FBI Director Chris Wray in response to these threats.
Some of these charges date back to threats made in 2022, prompting election officials to prepare for the upcoming vote for several years. Since the start of last year, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has executed over 1,000 voluntary physical security evaluations at election offices.
In late August, one such assessment took place in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, where representatives from CISA and Homeland Security suggested installing barriers to protect against potential vehicle attacks on the ground level of the election office building located in Wilkes Barre.
“This is a measure taken to safeguard staff, the public, and the ballots,” Luzerne County manager Romilda Crocamo told local TV station WVIA earlier this month as workers installed boulders along the front of the building.
Crocamo also mentioned that the county opted not to use drop boxes, citing concerns over their security. Recently, multiple drop boxes in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, were set ablaze in events that authorities are investigating.
Alongside securing the buildings where election personnel operate, several prominent election officials are taking personal safety precautions.
Arizona secretary of state Adrian Fontes, who oversees elections in his state, disclosed on Monday that he often wears a bulletproof vest following a series of online threats that included his home address. In Adams County, Colorado, the local clerk and recorder Josh Zygielbaum has also been advised by law enforcement to don body armor after being followed home post-election.
Zygielbaum recently shared with USA Today that he has heeded the advice to wear body armor every day. He has described his security measures with phrases such as “harden the office as a target,” which includes adding panic buttons underneath every desk for better protection.
Tate Fall, the election director for Cobb County, Georgia, has also implemented panic buttons that directly connect to emergency services after an incident where a poll worker reported a distressed voter carrying a firearm during the recent presidential primary.
Since the last election, several new election offices have been constructed, notably in California’s Los Angeles County and Durham County, North Carolina. These facilities have been designed with security features, including bulletproof glass, security cameras, and access doors that require specific credentials to open.
In Los Angeles County, trained sniffer dogs are now being utilized to screen all incoming mail to election offices. This measure follows a troubling rise in suspicious letters sent to various officials, some of which contained white powder and tested positive for fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that is lethal even in minute quantities.
As a result, most election offices across the country are equipped with Narcan kits, and staff members have been trained in how to administer the medication in the event of an accidental opioid overdose. Taking it a step further, Durham County’s new election office has established a dedicated mail-sorting room that includes a separate exhaust system to ensure that potentially hazardous substances do not contaminate the rest of the office.
“Election workers now need to be well-versed in security, cybersecurity, public health, and public relations, all while managing a significantly higher volume of information requests and recounts,” says Adam Hinds, who is a former Massachusetts state senator and now serves as the CEO of the nonprofit Edward M. Kennedy Institute. “One challenge is that they are already stretched thin concerning funding and resources. As election administration gains more attention, it’s essential that our election workers have the necessary resources to perform their duties effectively.”
