Bulletproof glass, guard activations: US poll offices gear up for election day

In anticipation of potential violence, US election offices have significantly tightened security measures, with increased threats and harassment of election workers since 2020. Many states have fortified facilities with bulletproof glass, installed steel doors, and provided staff with active shooter training and de-escalation techniques.

With Election Day approaching, officials across the country are also conducting security drills, flagging criminal threats, and working closely with law enforcement.

This year, hundreds of election offices have increased their security protocols to better prepare for possible incidents. “Unfortunately for all of us, standing up to bullies and fighting back against misinformation in this moment means putting ourselves in the metaphorical line of fire,” said Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, in an NBC interview.

Benson noted that she consulted her security team to ensure her family’s safety before responding to accusations online, reported The Guardian.

Many offices have trained poll workers on de-escalation tactics and equipped polling sites with emergency kits, including trauma kits and panic buttons.

“We shouldn’t see that planning and preparation as a guarantee that violence will happen,” explained Shannon Hiller, executive director of the Bridging Divides Initiative at Princeton University. “You don’t do a fire drill because you’re sure a fire is happening next weekâ€æ[this preparation helps] us to feel more safe, not less.”

Right wing election denial has intensified since former President Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss, raising concerns among election officials.

Trump has yet to confirm if he will accept the 2024 election results, suggesting without evidence that his opponent, Kamala Harris, and the Democrats may attempt to manipulate the outcome.

These assertions have fuelled intimidation, especially in swing states, where Arizona and Michigan officials report escalated threats.

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, revealed he now wears a bulletproof vest and seeks to protect voter information, saying he fears for their safety if identities are public. In Arizona’s Maricopa County, visible security reinforcements have been deployed, including fencing, concrete barriers, and a potential drone presence.

County Supervisor Bill Gates described the situation as “a sad commentary on what’s happened in this country in the last four years.” However, Gates stated that the hostile environment has ultimately strengthened community resolve. “People who create this chaosâ€æhad hoped to drive us apart, butâ€æif anything, it has brought us together.”

Increased law enforcement is evident across the country, with some states activating the Guard for Election Day. Washington DC Police Chief Pamela Smith announced more than 3,000 officers would be on 12-hour shifts to manage safety.

Washington’s Governor Jay Inslee also referenced an arson attack on a ballot drop box when activating the guard, explaining that “their help could be needed to protect election infrastructure.” In other states, such as Nevada, the guard is on alert, though Governor Joe Lombardo said deployments may not be necessary.

Federal and state officials are further clamping down on threats, with the federal government creating a taskforce that recently brought charges against individuals accused of threatening election workers.

In one case, an Arizona man admitted to sending violent messages to election officials, and multiple states have enacted new laws since 2020 aimed at protecting election workers.

In Maryland, for instance, Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis emphasised a zero-tolerance policy. After an incident where a poll observer was reported for intimidation, he stated: “It’s shameful an incident has occurred.”