Security measures are draconian and unprecedented in Washington and many major U.S. cities ahead of tomorrow's election, including rooftop snipers to protect a key vote-counting office, panic buttons for election workers and surveillance drones.
HDN Newsroom
To ensure their vote is protected and allay the fears of American citizens, U.S. authorities have imposed unprecedented security measures designed to withstand violence and other nightmare scenarios on Election Day and the day after.
Across the country, local officials are taking steps to fortify election-related sites, including rooftop snipers to protect key central vote-counting offices, panic buttons for election workers and surveillance drones.
Authorities are keeping first aid on standby and have filled the streets with additional patrols. At least two states, Nevada and Washington, have activated the National Guard in case of unrest. Arizona's secretary of state, responsible for certifying results across the state, said he wore a bulletproof vest in the event of an attack.
Political analysts came to two main conclusions from the massive effort to "guard" the elections:
The first is that Americans should have great confidence that the vote is safe and that the system will endure because of the extra guardrails added after the chaos caused by Trump to overturn his defeat in 2020.
The second is that it should not be so.
Analysts say the biggest threat comes from the right-wing election denial movement that emerged in 2020 with Trump's refusal to accept his defeat by Joe Biden. The promotion of conspiracy theories about the election took thousands of people to the streets for the "Stop the Theft" rallies, which culminated in the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 to support Trump's goal of preventing the results from being certified by Congress.
Trump has not committed to accepting the result this year and has argued without evidence that Democrats will cheat to install his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris has said she is committed to free and fair elections and the peaceful transfer of power.
Much of the security preparation is focused on the post-election period, when counting will resume in some states, notably Arizona and Pennsylvania. The potential uncertainty of the outcome combined with the deluge of misinformation expected on social media during these days may stoke unrest and lead to attempts to disrupt the process, officials said.
The Maricopa example
A demonstration of preparation for the worst-case scenario is Maricopa County, where most of Arizona's voters live.
The counting building in downtown Phoenix is protected like a fortress, and staff monitor social media in real-time for reports of problems. Drone surveillance will help law enforcement officers monitor potential threats.
Maricopa was pivotal in efforts by Trump and his allies after the 2020 election to try to stop the vote count, with hundreds of Trump supporters protesting outside the county center as ballot boxes continued to be counted.
The county sheriff mobilizes up to 200 members to work around the clock during the election cycle, monitoring polling places and outdoor lockers. The office plans to post snipers on rooftops if needed.
The picture is similar in other states. Hundreds of polling offices are now supported with bulletproof glass, steel doors and surveillance equipment. Some counties have distributed panic buttons on laces for the polling chief to wear at each voting position. Others have been fitted with anti-infection uniforms and the Narcan - antidote to opioid overdose - in case suspicious powders arrive by mail, as has happened in recent years.
