Election security may be a concern for voters that is even more important than the issues they are most passionate about.
The government was compelled to establish an election security framework because of the aftermath of the 2020 elections and reports of increased voter intimidation and poll worker threats.
Federal officials are also concerned about election security as the 2022 midterm elections draw near.
Neal Kelley, the director of safe and secure elections, stressed during his testimony before the House Homeland Security Committee that law enforcement must do more to reduce the risks to voters, poll workers, and the elections themselves.
“Election workers across the nation, including myself, receive threats and abuse on a regular basis,” according to Kelley.
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“Threats to election workers not only harm the safety of the individuals involved but also jeopardize the stability of the U.S. voting process,” the FBI warned in a statement.
But perhaps no one is listening to their message.
Election workers in Arizona’s most populous county, Maricopa, received over 100 violent threats between July 11 and August 22, according to records gathered by law enforcement, including threatening to divulge personal information, attacks on social media, and harassing emails.
One of the threats was, “You will be put to death.” They were “dragged by a car with wire wrapped around their limbs and fastened.”
Most threats made reference to false allegations of voter fraud. According to Maricopa County officials, certain threats sparked investigations, and the senders may now be sentenced to prison.
In the 2020 election cycle, Maricopa County, which has more than 4 million residents and includes Phoenix, was at the heart of claims of election fraud, which prompted a contentious audit by the state Senate.
Additionally, reports of voting intimidation have been made to officials.
In the days before Tuesday’s midterm elections, Maricopa County saw the appearance of uniformed vigilantes outside polling places. The gathering was later prohibited by a judge from being within 200 feet of a voting location. More than 3 million Arizonans are eligible to vote early, and early voting started on October 12.
Kari Lake, a Republican running for governor of Arizona, was compelled to close her campaign office on Sunday after receiving an envelope containing a “suspicious white powder.”
In a statement that said, in part, “We look forward to law enforcement finishing their investigation as swiftly as possible,” the Lake campaign made it clear they will not be frightened. To win this election on Tuesday, we’re still moving quickly.
The campaign worker who opened the letter is currently being treated by a doctor. The event is being investigated by the FBI.
