Officials around the U.S. are preparing to protect election results and electoral college meetings for the 2024 presidential election.
“We’re taking this very, very seriously,” Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes told Politico. “One of these days, we might get back to the days of bunting and balloons, but this year, the threat of domestic terrorism is too great.”
Several other Democratic officials from Arizona, New Mexico, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Washington also told Politico that tightened security is a priority. They are working with the Homeland Security Department to keep the Electoral College safe.
“Once upon a time, this was a ceremony that was done in the rotunda of the Capitol in Minnesota, literally where there’s public access, where tour groups were like walking by, and it was just totally open,” Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, a Democrat who presided over two presidential elections, told Politico. “That is just not practical today, given this environment.”
Simon said he’ll work with the winning campaign to address their security concerns.
“There’s no question that this is a departure from the way it was even a dozen years ago,” he said.
In 2016, Simon allowed high-school classes to come and observe the election process. That privilege is now canceled due to safety concerns.
“It’s still going to be an occasion to talk about the strengths of our democracy,” Simon said. “But it’s happening amidst a background of post-election tension that will require us to focus more than we otherwise would want to on physical security.”
Still, there are some other officials in other states who are not as concerned about safety.
“We are taking usual precautions and are in contact with appropriate law enforcement personnel,” Michon Lindstrom, communications director for Kentucky Secretary of State Michael G. Adams, told Politico. “We have not received, and do not anticipate, any security threat to the meeting of our electors.”
An FBI spokesperson who spoke to Politico said the agency has set up a National Election Command Post and it will continue to ensure security throughout the election.
“Although Election Day is Nov. 5, the FBI’s work alongside our state and local partners in securing the election begins well before, and continues well beyond that date,” the spokesperson told Politico. “In the months leading up to Election Day, the FBI is engaged in extensive preparations. As always, we are working closely with our federal, state and local partners.”
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