As the election approaches, U.S. election officials introduce
increasingly militaristic protection measures. Drones, snipers, spiked fences, and
Even dogs trained to detect threats become everyday. It's not just
security for visits by advanced officials, but a set of measures that
They aim to defend the electoral process from force and chaos.
"In view of the current political environment, the anticipation of an incident
has increased and our election professionals have responded appropriately" –
emphasises Tammy Patrick, erstwhile Arizona electoral official. In consequence to growing
Risks, the authorities have introduced additional safety measures, including installation
bulletproof glass, fences and monitoring systems.
Maricopa County, Arizona has become a peculiar case of this militarisation. It's a region.
which became the epicentre of conspiracy theories after the 2020 election. “We are now
say," says Stephen Richer, Maricopa region recorder, describing how he must
go through fences and safety checks to scope your office.
The threat to election workers rose after Donald Trump's accusations of
falsifying elections, leading to an increase in threats. FBI warns about
increased hazard of attacks by right-wing extremists and many election offices
implement protection measures for its employees, including bulletproof vests and procedures
Deescalation.
In Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, officials installed barriers to prevent attacks
Car and Secretary of State Arizona regularly wears a protective vest due to
threats received. “This is not something that should happen in America,” says Tate
O’Neill, stressing that everyone should feel safe giving their voice.
In addition to physical hazards, officials must besides face threats in
Cyberspace. After the 2020 incidents, many agencies introduced fresh policies
cybersecurity. A peculiar squad was formed in San Diego region to
monitoring attacks on electoral systems.
“We cannot give in to those who want to intimidate us against the law” –
concludes Patrick. The safety of the electoral process is crucial and the upcoming
elections in 2024 can be a challenge that will besides item the importance of democracy in
United States.
