News

Oct 24, 2024

Election workers to wear bulletproof vests across the US

With just weeks to go until the election day, election officials across the U.S. are facing threats and concerns about their safety. Some are even planning to don bulletproof vests to stay safe. This

With just weeks to go until the election day, election officials across the U.S. are facing threats and concerns about their safety. Some are even planning to don bulletproof vests to stay safe.

This Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Election Threats Task Force announced new developments in cases regarding threats to election personnel and other victims. One case was linked to Colorado and Arizona, another to Alabama and Arizona, the third to Florida and the fourth to Pennsylvania.

Teak Ty Brockbank, a 45-year-old from Cortez, Colo. pleaded guilty Wednesday to threatening a Colorado election official and making other threats to an Arizona election official, a Colorado state judge, and federal law enforcement agents between September 2021 and this July. According to the Justice Department, he said this in a social media post: “I live in Communist Colorado and this Crazed liberal [referring to Election Official-1] and many others in Communist Colorado needs to- No has to Hang she has to Hang by the neck till she is Dead Dead Dead.”

Alabama resident Brian Jerry Ogstad of Alabama, was sentenced Monday to 30 months in prison for sending messages threatening violence to election workers with Maricopa County Elections in Phoenix, Ariz., during Aug. 2022. Richard Glenn Kantwill, 61, of Florida, was charged Monday for allegedly sending a threat on Feb. 9 to an election official. He also faces pending charges for politics-related threats made to three other victims in 2019 and 2020.

John Pollard, 62, of Philadelphia, Pa., was also charged on Monday for allegedly threatening to kill a representative of a Pennsylvania state political party who was recruiting official poll watchers last month. This week, Audacy reported on concerned election officials in Pennsylvania due to a law there that prevents vote counting before election day. Pennsylvania is one of the most-watched swing states of the election and it was at the center of conspiracy theories promoted during the 2020 election cycle by former President Donald Trump.

Although Trump – the current GOP candidate for president, running against Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris – lost in 2020 to sitting President Joe Biden, he claims that he lost the election due to election fraud. Trump has never been able to provide evidence to back up his claims. Election fraud claims also fueled the deadly Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021.

Last month, News 21 also reported on a story from Rochester Hills, Michigan. There, City Clerk Tina Barton received a frightening voicemail days after the 2020 election.

“We will f***ing take you out,” said a man’s voice, per the report. “F**k your family, f**k your life, and you deserve the f***ing throat to the knife. … Watch your f***ing back.

In 2021, the Justice Department launched the Election Threats Task Force to help protect election workers.

“As we approach Election Day, the Justice Department’s warning remains clear: anyone who illegally threatens an election worker, official, or volunteer will face the consequences,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland this week. “Over the past three and a half years, the Justice Department has been aggressively investigating and prosecuting those who threaten the public servants who administer our elections, and we will continue to do so in the weeks ahead. For our democracy to function, Americans who serve the public must be able to do their jobs without fearing for their lives.”

Even as the DOJ task force works to identify and discipline offenders, new threats pop up.

Josh Zygielbaum, a former Marine and elected county clerk in Adams County near Denver, Colo., said someone followed him home after a recent election, according to USA Today. Afterwards, the local sheriff to recommend that he start wearing body armor.

“His staff has stashed Narcan around the office in case of a fentanyl attack. And a ballot tainted with white power temporarily derailed counting during one ballot tally,” USA Today said.

As the 2024 election draws near, election workers are beefing up security, NBC News reported. These measures include increased security at polling places, drone surveillance, and the previously mentioned bulletproof vests.

NEWS 21 said that Tom Liddy, a lifelong Republican who heads the civil division at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, was given a bulletproof vest to wear by the Federal Bureau of Investigation after his family was threatened in 2022. NBC reported that Colorado is making funds available this year for election-related security upgrades such as bulletproof vests and bulletproof glass, as well as security cameras.

“The once-routine business of running elections in America has become much more fraught with risk in the wake of the 2020 campaign, with poll workers facing harassment, violent threats and chaotic protests,” said NBC.“It’s a dynamic that has forced many election officials out of the industry, while those who remain have taken in some cases dramatic steps to protect poll workers and voters.”

Maricopa County, Ariz., another swing state and frequent target of conspiracy theories, is also increasing its security. NBC News said it will have some of the most intense security in the nation, including snipers on the roof of the tabulation center, metal detectors and security at every entrance, drone surveillance, security cameras and law enforcement on-site.

Other areas that have been ramping up security for the 2024 election include parts of Georgia, Wisconsin and Michigan, per NBC.