U.S. states are ramping up unprecedented security measures to prepare for any potential chaos on Election Day.

State and local governments across the United States are implementing extensive security plans to counter the risk of violence and other worst-case scenarios on November 5, while reassuring the public that their votes will be safe.

Local officials are taking various steps, such as stationing snipers to guard ballot-counting centers, installing panic buttons for election staff, and deploying drones for 24/7 surveillance. Emergency response teams are on high alert, and police officers have been dispatched to patrol the streets. At least two states, Nevada and Washington, have activated the National Guard as a precaution. The Arizona Secretary of State, responsible for certifying the state’s election results, even plans to wear a bulletproof vest while on duty.

“There are clear and present dangers, but we are vigilant and have significantly increased our security,” said Damon Hewitt, executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “However, this draining of resources should not become normalized.”

Analysts point to the election denial movement as a significant threat, a phenomenon that began in 2020 when Republican candidate Donald Trump refused to accept Joe Biden’s victory. Trump’s promotion of election fraud conspiracy theories led to mass protests and culminated in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. He has since been indicted in state and federal courts for trying to overturn the election results, though he has pleaded not guilty.

Election denialism has evolved from a fringe belief into a core force within the Republican Party, gaining substantial influence. Many supporters have already dismissed the possibility of a loss, even before voting begins. Trump has refused to commit to accepting this year’s results, alleging without evidence that Democrats will commit fraud to secure Kamala Harris’s victory. Harris, the Democratic candidate, has affirmed that she will accept the election results and ensure a peaceful transfer of power.

Polls show a tight race between Trump and Harris, but Trump’s allies insist that his victory is “inevitable.” David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, warned, “If Trump loses or perceives he’s losing, it will be a shock to his supporters, and provocateurs will likely try to incite them to violence.”

Maricopa County, home to the majority of Arizona’s voters, exemplifies the efforts to prepare for worst-case scenarios. The county’s central election office in Phoenix is fortified, with staff monitoring social media around the clock for threats. Law enforcement has deployed drones to watch for any potential dangers.

Maricopa was a focal point of Trump’s failed attempts to halt the 2020 ballot count, with hundreds of his supporters protesting outside the vote center. This year, Sheriff Russ Skinner has mobilized 200 officers to work 24/7, monitoring polling places and ballot drop boxes. Snipers may be positioned on rooftops if necessary. “We didn’t need more than 50 officers before 2020. Everything changed after that,” Skinner said.

Similar scenes are unfolding in other states. Hundreds of election offices have been reinforced with bulletproof glass, steel doors, and surveillance systems. Some counties have distributed panic buttons for key staff members at voting locations. Others have stocked protective gear and antidotes for opioid overdoses in case suspicious powders are mailed to them, an incident that has occurred in recent years.

Federal officials have also warned of foreign interference. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) accused Russia of spreading fake videos online. One video allegedly shows election workers in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, destroying ballots, while another features a Haitian national falsely claiming to have voted in Georgia.

CISA Director Jen Easterly stated that these videos are designed to sow doubt about the election results, turning Americans against each other and sparking unrest.

Experts are concerned that tensions could escalate into violence if there is a delay in announcing the election results. In 2020, major networks did not declare Joe Biden the winner until five days after the election, long after Trump had claimed victory. Authorities are also closely monitoring threats from far-right and extremist groups. They are striving to protect voters without creating an intimidating atmosphere, especially in communities with a history of tension with law enforcement.

“In many places, armed security at polling stations has become the new normal,” said Linda Farmer, an election administrator in Pierce County, Washington. “But we hope it remains minimal and doesn’t discourage voters. We’ve worked hard with law enforcement to strike that balance.”

Several areas, including North Carolina, have developed special training programs for police officers to respond to emergencies at polling sites. These programs emphasize that officers are there to protect, not infringe upon, people’s right to vote.

Even if Election Day goes smoothly, other pivotal moments, such as December 17—when state electors cast their votes—could pose security challenges. In 2020, Trump’s campaign gathered alternate electors in some states he lost to falsely claim victory.

In battleground states like Georgia, security barricades have been erected around government buildings, while Arizona has upgraded locks and cameras at key sites. “Everyone is much more tense but also resolute,” said Bill Burgess, an election office worker in Marion County, Oregon.

For many election officials, the heightened security has been stressful. When a heavy package arrived at the Wake County Board of Elections in North Carolina in late October, officials hesitated to accept it, fearing it might contain a threat. The package turned out to be boxes of cookies and thank-you notes, but officials remain wary.

Despite the anxiety, high early voting numbers have encouraged election officials. With over 70 million ballots cast as of November 2, voter turnout remains strong. “This turnout shows that people are undeterred. They trust in our process,” said Karen Brinson Bell, head of North Carolina’s election board.

(According to Washington Post, AFP, Reuters)

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