A poll found nearly 1 in 5 local election officials are “very” or “somewhat unlikely” to continue serving in their positions in the 2024 presidential election.
According to the report from the Brennan Center for Justice, 77% of local election officials say threats against them have increased in recent years. Nearly one in three local election officials know of at least one worker who has left the position, partly because of safety concerns, increased threats, or intimidation.
More than half of local election officials are concerned incoming colleagues might believe there was widespread fraud in 2020. Still, nearly a third of election officials say they are “completely satisfied” with their jobs.
Most officials say both state and federal government must do more to support them. The poll was conducted from January 31 to February 14 and surveyed 596 local election officials.
Larry Norden, the senior director of elections and government at the Brennan Center, explained, “There’s a crisis in election administration.”
He added, “[Election administrators] are concerned, and they’re not getting the support that they need.”
CNN reported last month legislators in at least eight states have introduced bills to better protect election officials. Washington state Sen. David Frockt, a sponsor of one of the bills told CNN he felt “we needed to make a strong statement that at a minimum, we’re gonna protect these election workers who are doing a very noble service and have always done it without controversy.”
He continued, “We’re not going to submit to mob rule.”
Additionally, Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger called for extra security at the state’s polling places.
Politico noted the Department of Justice has touted a task force created to go after people who make threats against election workers. In January, the department made an indictment of a man from Texas who made a threat against an election official from Georgia.
