The upcoming $24 million elections operations center in Durham, North Carolina, will now feature a separate mail-room exhaust system to protect against dangerous particles, following a series of suspicious letters sent to election offices nationwide last year. Although Durham did not receive any of these letters, the incidents raised security concerns for the county’s Democratic stronghold in a swing state. The volatile environment around elections since 2020 has prompted local election officials like Derek Bowens to take action to increase security measures to protect their operations and staff.
A survey released by the Brennan Center for Justice highlights the significant increase in security actions taken by local election officials since 2020. The survey, which included nearly 930 officials, revealed that 38% had experienced harassment, abuse, or threats, a 8% increase from the previous year. Most officials also reported feeling that threats had increased since 2020, with concerns about the safety of colleagues and staff. The survey also showed worries about potential swatting incidents, hoaxes aimed at triggering an armed law enforcement response.
The security concerns reflected in the survey have led to an exodus of election workers from their positions, with nearly 1 in 5 officials facing their first presidential election on the job and 6% likely to leave before November. Lawrence Norden from the Brennan Center expressed concern that the public may be becoming desensitized to the challenges faced by election officials, emphasizing that it is unacceptable for so many workers to experience harassment and threats in the course of their duties. Despite these challenges, he remains optimistic about officials’ resilience and their dedication to protecting election infrastructure.
In Durham County, election workers have implemented measures such as wearing masks and gloves to handle incoming mail and setting up an emergency operations center during voting periods. The new elections center will feature duress buttons and bullet-proof glass, with additional technology introduced to safeguard the election process and workers. GPS tracking devices will be given to workers at polling places to ensure their safety as they transport results and ballots after polls close. Despite the challenges, Bowens emphasized the resilience of election officials and their dedication to preserving democracy in the face of threats.
The survey also highlighted the need for increased financial investments in election administration and security needs, with 83% of officials indicating that their budgets need to grow to keep pace over the next five years. The survey was conducted between February and March, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. The majority of respondents identified as either Democrat, Republican, or independent, reflecting a range of political affiliations among local election officials. As officials continue to adapt to the evolving security landscape, they are working to ensure the safety of their operations and the democratic process for workers and voters alike.
