The Gate

“Scared to death” is how Mark Earley, a Florida local election official, describes his deep-seated anxiety ahead of the November general election in the United States. Following sustained misinformation regarding the results of the 2020 election, the voting public voiced distrust in the integrity of election officials. With the November election around the corner, poll watchers are under close examination and have become a target for the voting public. The intimidation of voters and election judges concerns election experts across the United States. Many are calling on state and federal officials to ensure a fair and safe election cycle for all. 

Voter intimidation is a type of voter suppression, defined as  “any action that intimidates voters and scares them away from, or has the potential to scare them away from, exercising their constitutional right to vote.” Beyond this definition, voter intimidation is more nuanced than the act of scaring—it also captures actual and implied violence that targets specific demographics to become hesitant about voting. The Brennan Center for Justice found nationally one in five election workers planned to quit prior to the 2024 presidential election; those surveyed cited stress and political attacks as driving factors.

Across the US, election officials have retired, resigned, or did not pursue re-election. Returning judges have undergone additional security training. Since the 2020 election, approximately 50 senior-level county election officials in Pennsylvania have resigned, while in Nevada, 10 (of 17) top election officials have left their roles. Some states took new steps to protect volunteers who plan to work the polls this election. Michigan officials participated in de-escalation training and in Florida polling places bullet-resistant glass is installed for safety. Both Michigan and Georgia created a text hotline for poll workers that notifies an election official, the secretary of state’s office, and law enforcement of any danger at a voting location. The federal government has responded by allocating $55 million in funding for election security, a disappointing fraction of the $425 million Congress approved in years prior to the 2020 election. 

Although the Voting Rights Act of 1965 specifically outlaws voter intimidation, far-right conservative factions revive this illegal practice, violating equal access to the right to vote. Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley stated the organization will create committees that will place “election integrity directors” in 15 states, including the contested battlegrounds. 

The US is a signatory to international human rights law that protects the right to vote and the ability to vote without suppression. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination delineate governments at all levels to take effective measures to protect all persons entitled to vote are able to exercise that right, and forbids laws and policies that have a racially discriminatory impact. 

Citizens cannot express their protected right to vote without fear of harassment, threatening democracy. Concerns only gained traction following the destruction of ballot boxes in Oregon and Washington. Elections serve as an opportunity for the American public to make their voice heard not only federally, but locally, enlisting their local school boards, judges, and state propositions. Protecting against voter suppression ensures that all Americans can participate safely in the upcoming election and that their representation reflects the needs of their community. The persistence of voter and poll worker intimidation is projected to reduce voter turnout and produce skewed election results from underrepresented communities.

The image used in this article was originally created and its rights held by Hill Street Studios. It can be accessed here.