Threats to election workers not only endanger the safety of the individuals involved but also jeopardize the stability of the US electoral process. The FBI defines "election workers" broadly as individuals who have responsibility over one or more aspects of election administration, including elected officials, appointed officials, staff, volunteers, contractors, vendors, and liaisons.
Threats can be communicated to election workers through various means, such as telephone calls and emails, social media posts, and in-person statements. Regardless of how the threat or harassment is conveyed, the FBI takes all threats of violence targeting election workers seriously.
Election Worker Examples
Specific examples of election workers include, but are not limited to:
- Chief Election Officer
- A Secretary of State or a member of their staff
- An employee of a state or county board of elections
- An individual volunteering at a polling station
- Clerks handling and counting cast ballots
Report It
If you or someone you know is aware of threats made to election workers or polling locations, report it to your local FBI field office or submit an electronic tip. Please include any available information, such as screenshots of threats, election worker names, dates, and locations.
For additional information on other election-related threats, please see the following Public Service Announcements: