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Panic buttons for poll workers, special weapons teams deployed on rooftops, and hundreds of National Guard personnel on standby.
The 2024 U.S. presidential campaign has been a particularly volatile one, and security for Election Day on Tuesday is being ramped up to unprecedented levels given concerns over possible civil unrest, election chicanery, or violence against election workers.
The states of Oregon, Washington and Nevada have activated the National Guard -- and the Pentagon says at least 17 states have placed a total of 600 National Guard troops on standby if needed.
The FBI has set up a national election command post in Washington to monitor threats 24 hours a day through election week, and security has been bolstered at many of the nearly 100,000 U.S. polling stations.
Nineteen states have enacted election security enhancement laws since 2020, the National Conference of State Legislatures says.
With Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump deadlocked at the climax of the 2024 race, authorities are keen to reassure jittery Americans that their votes are secure. But they are also bolstering physical security for election operations nationwide.
Runbeck Election Services, which provides security technology for poll operations, confirmed to AFP Monday it has ordered some 1,000 panic buttons for clients that include election facilities and their workers.
These small devices, worn as a lanyard or held in a pocket, are paired with a user's cell phone and contact law enforcement or other authorities in case of emergency.
Officials in the seven key swing states are eager to convey confidence in a secure and fair election.
"Here in Georgia, it is easy to vote and hard to cheat. Our systems are secure and our people are ready," Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger told reporters on Monday.
Fringe activists might bring some "extra drama" to the proceedings, he said.
But Raffensperger added he expects the election to be safe in Georgia, where Trump faces criminal charges over his interference in the 2020 election.
In Arizona, a southwestern swing state that became a fulcrum of election night unrest and conspiracy theories that year, officials have turned the state's main election and ballot counting facility, in Maricopa County, into a veritable fortress.
It now has wrought-iron fencing, barbed wire, armed guards and a SWAT presence on the roof, according to officials.
"Since January of 2021, our office has increased badge security access, installed permanent barriers, and added additional cybersecurity measures based on the recommendations of law enforcement and other experts," Taylor Kinnerup, communications director for the Maricopa County Recorder's Office, told AFP on Monday.
Pennsylvania's Department of State, which oversees elections in the nation's largest swing state, said its preparation includes defenses of infrastructure and partnerships with security and law enforcement agencies, although it did not provide details.
The new layers of security follow the election chaos from 2020, particularly after Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building on January 6, 2021 aiming to halt certification of the election results that confirmed Joe Biden as the winner.
Officials are also warning of major cyber and hacking threats, particularly from abroad.
Russia, Iran and China are conducting influence operations to undermine American confidence in election legitimacy and "stoke partisan discord," Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency director Jen Easterly recently told NBC News.
This "firehose of disinformation," she added, is "creating very real physical threats to election workers."
Meanwhile in Washington, high metal fencing has been erected around the vice president's residence and the White House, and some shopfronts have been boarded up.
"There will be no tolerance for violence in our city," DC Police Chief Pamela Smith told reporters Monday.
"Should it require additional time to know the results of this election, we want everyone to know that we are ready to handle many different scenarios, and we have the right people in place to keep our city safe," she said.
© 2024 AFP
52 Comments
Tokyo Guy
And here's the thing: while the MAGA people will deny it, this state of affairs is 100% on Trump.
bass4funk
So if liberals lose the selection, you can rest assure that there’s going to be held to pay in the streets, this is the reason why a lot of people are going to bank getting money, food, and provisions out, because after what happened during the summer riots of 2020 people are not going to deal with that mess again
stormcrow
Republicans don’t want an election. They and their master want a coup. Put on your seatbelts if Harris wins.
wallace
bass4funk
Poor English for a journalist. (Selection) (held). Banks don't sell food.
Since you are in Japan you have no idea if that is happening. What happened in 2020 was over racism. What happened in 2021 was Trump trying to overthrow the handover of power. The racism happened under Trump's watch.
Plain and simple just another conspiracy theory.
Daniel Neagari
Based on what people say, one thing is for sure, whoever is the winner, the US will fall to civil unrest, that may mark the end of "the oldest democracy in the world"....
Scary picture? no matter who wins, the end result is a Orange supreme leader.
Blacklabel
Yeah the liberals are gonna be super mad, so had to board up all the stores and put fences around stuff.
bass4funk
Wrong
I never said that. You ok?
Now I am and I have family, so I will know soon enough.
So Racism is justification for Burning down a police station?
He didn’t. You need guns, ammunition, tanks, and other weapons to overthrow a government. You need to have a proper structure in place, that never happened.
No, started under Obama
No, it’s pure reality
Daniel Neagari
HUH??? do you know your country?? Racisim in the US started waaaaay back. The origins have for 400 years ago... at minimum
marc laden
Watch the most racist comment which Trump said in this last minute of this campaign .. This is going to make him lose the election
what here the end
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6VZx4xahEyM
finally rich
No unrest from the Right as Trump has been already elected. Why?
-Already a successful president
-Massive and dedicated base of support
-The best retail politician of our time
-Shot in the head on live TV and survived
-Beat the incumbent president so badly they had to pull him from the race
-Wildly popular with working class Americans
-Running against the least impressive presidential candidate in American history
By literally all metrics Trump should win tomorrow and it shouldn’t be particularly close.
wallace
bass4funk
Poor English for a journalist.
Lower standards and acceptable wrong words.
(Selection) (held). Banks don't sell food.
But you did. I quote
"a lot of people are going to bank getting money, food, and provisions out, "
So according to your comment, people are going to the bank and getting money, food, and provisions out.
Since you are in Japan you have no idea if that is happening.
What happened in 2020 was over racism.
The riots and looting were not connected to the racism demonstrations. They were just thugs.
What happened in 2021 was Trump trying to overthrow the handover of power.
Trump tried to stop the handover of power. it was all on TV. Some of the rioters and looters had guns. More than 1,000 were arrested and more than 800 were imprisoned.
The racism happened under Trump's watch.
The racism from the police happened under Trump in 2020.
Plain and simple just another conspiracy theory.
Agreed. Your reality.
iron man
Surprised about the comments above, where did I see 'the oldest democracy in the world' not true but were donkeys and elephants ever intended to live peacefully together, as I have said before, history always tells the future. No time for mickey mouse bickering gals & guys. What will be, will be. maybe a good lesson for all mankind??
dagon
Last second fake news alt history.
https://www.propublica.org/article/donald-trump-agenda-working-class
If you are one of those 'finally rich' your results may have been different.
Source: Trump MAGA.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/30/us/election-poll-monitors.html
The choice is clear.
Bad Haircut
Judging by where the polls and betting markets are pointing, any violence is going to be coming from the left. What any prospective left-wing rioters can't grasp, though, is that their candidate and party don't care a whit for them - they're just fodder. But they're so consumer by their hate for Trump that they can't see the wood for the trees. It's been interesting following Rebel News reporter Avi Yemeni across the US interviewing people in different places about who they'll vote for and who they think will win, and why. Most of the Harris supporters can't articulate why they think she's a better candidate, but have no reservations expressing their hatred for Trump yet can't clearly explain why. It's an emotional thing, not a rational one.
I just hope Trump has learned his lessons from last time around and picks better people in his administration and cleans out people who would make it their mission to hamper him at every turn. He's off to a good start with Ramaswamy, Gabbard, Kennedy and Musk. This alone should upset the right people.
lincolnman
This will play our exactly like 2020 - where our MAGA-friends, ensconced within the far-right echo chamber, will be fed a steady diet of "Trump winning" disinformation....
Then while watching all the talking heads on Fox tell them Trump is ahead, the decision desk will force them back to reality and show them that Trump has actually lost...
Then all hell breaks loose...
The only thing that will be different is Fox won't let its talking heads slander Dominion or Smartmatic - Rupert ain't makin' that $787 million mistake again...
Get your orange crying towels out MAGA-fans, and leave the Glocks and AR15s in the gun closet...
Daniel Neagari
@iron man
I made the comment abou the oldest democracy in the world... and although i have my doubts about the accuracy of that statement, if you make an internet search and revise the top 10 results you will get that the US is the oldest democracy in the world.
bass4funk
Food bank, typo, clarified
You know what I meant, cute, very cute though.
Now I am and I have family, so I will know soon enough.
They actually were, finally we agree for once.
Raskin said he might do that if Trump wins, you agree with that?
Not in the crowd, any video? Kind of like cheating, where is the proof?
Soon to be released
But started under Obama, remember his comment about how "whites cling to their guns and religion?"
No, just THE reality
Bad Haircut
And you call me a conspiracy theorist. You're aware that real people disagree with you, right?
Some dude
And you call me a conspiracy theorist. You're aware that real people disagree with you, right?
None who matter.
dagon
Trump has droned on with his rhetoric as Biden/Harris worst admin in history. Thought not great , the reality is different.
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-worst-president-poll-b2498963.html
If you are an oligarch or someone voting against your own best economic interests, vote Trump.
https://publicintegrity.org/inside-publici/newsletters/trumps-signature-legislation-a-transfer-of-wealth-to-the-richest-americans/
Blacklabel
not this time. Nope. not happening.
Peter14
He managed to rig the election?
Nope, he was the worst President in American history, bar none.
Massive and delusional base of support.
Again, the worst of all time!
Grazed his ear, and he was more worried about his shoes. Not exactly able to prioritize the important things is he.
Biden was defeated by his own age.
Wildly popular with people unable to understand a lie when they see it, over and over again.
No, Trump is not running against another Donald Trump.
By no metric at all should Trump even be contesting this election, and he should be losing in spectacular fashion. Unless the "fix" is in. Trump is a loser, liar and convicted felon. A criminal and thing more. Go Kamala!
grc
If the polls are to be believed, whoever wins the election will do so with the support of only half the population. Brexit shows us how the following four years will therefore pan out
iron man
Pls cut it out guys, I do not even care about 'oldest democracy in the World! I have travelled enough for my profession to learn antagonism only leads to hatred. Pls we all live in the same region of the world... close enough. what will be will be.
Peter14
Five Families
Russia, Iran and China are conducting influence operations to undermine American confidence in election legitimacy and "stoke partisan discord.
Major concenrn for Democrats or Republicans and Independents.
Trump Vance. 2024. Go time!
Its who I voted for. My future depends on them winning.
The economy, cost of living, inflation, intrests rates. Child care. WAY WAY TO HIGH!
Had Mrs, Harris shown me a plan to curb the above concenrs. She would have got my vote. 1 mil%
I despsie Trumps and antics and Vance is a yes man.
Pretty much all I care about. Everthing else just noise.
I will say this. If Mrs, Harris gets elected she better be a war time POTUS cause war is coming and she better know how to handle it. Or she will be out of office. At the end of her term.
bass4funk
But he is right
Or unless you want to upload democracy?
Daniel Neagari
ah... but Iron man, that sentence is basically what the US has position itself as a beacon of what should each country form of government should be.
The countries and regions where the US has "helped" to bring its brand of democracy and hets "authority", is based on that statement.
Wasabi
I am astonish that find out that intelligent person can still think trump is good a something. I would not trust him with anything and some would like to vote for him again?!? After what he did? The logic is lost on me....
If you re-elect him, the USA will have zero excuse for what will happen.
wallace
bass4funk
But you did. I quote
"a lot of people are going to bank getting money, food, and provisions out, "
Food banks give out money.
So according to your comment, people are going to the bank and getting money, food, and provisions out.
I can only read what you post.
Since you are in Japan you have no idea if that is happening.
You will know what?
The riots and looting were not connected to the racism demonstrations. They were just thugs.
The BLM demonstrations were in the daytime and mostly peaceful.
Trump tried to stop the handover of power.
Who is Raskin?
it was all on TV. Some of the rioters and looters had guns.
The police found guns and explosives in cars parked nearby.
More than 1,000 were arrested and more than 800 were imprisoned.
ROFL
The racism from the police happened under Trump in 2020.
Moderator
Readers, please control your emotions.
Blacklabel
Bill Clinton only got 43% of the vote and 44 million votes from a 300 million population and he did great.
itsonlyrocknroll
if there is a dangerous threat of politically motived violence, then the behavior of the mainstream media should be held fully accountable for fanning the flames of widespread discontent, outright falsehoods, deliberate race baiting, resentment hostility, toxic belligerence spread throughout communities nationwide.
That is before the grisly sneering bitterness from both candidates election campaigns teams.
Resulting in attempts on one candidates life.
Did it ever occur that after this poisonous electoral "poo show" the nation will need to heal unify???
Clearly not.
Some dude
Clearly I do, otherwise you wouldn't bother to respond. If Vlad did pay me to downvote your posts, I'd take the money in a heartbeat, but I'm happy to do it for free as well.
Yeah, as the downvote / upvote ratio here clearly influences world affairs just about as much as the results of a US election.
bass4funk
And I corrected
You actually believe that?
That is like saying who is Reagan
So where are the pics?
I would laugh as well if I were a Dem for a bit. Lol
And started under Obama came into office.
Some dude
Bill Clinton only got 43% of the vote and 44 million votes from a 300 million population and he did great.
Well, he was a democrat.
The undeniable pattern is that republicans wreck the economy and democrats fix it.
wallace
LEAKED VIDEO SHOWS TRUMP RAGING AT KAMALA
https://youtu.be/4TuzeUAp16g?si=DpkuE7fv_FuPP0A2
finally rich
That's the issue, she doesnt.
As someone else pointed out, she doesn't want to be president hard enough.
She always looks insecure and literally everything around her is scripted.
(fresh video of her asking a couple to go back to their house so she can pretend she's knocking on their door)
Just like Biden, you just can't see fierce eyes, someone wanting to be president so badly, every interview or even 'rally' she's just there, every question thrown at her is met with nervous, insecure eyes, every single time!
This is not about Trump x Kamala. This woman is not fit to be president. Never was.
Five Families
@ Blacklabel,
I liked Clinton. Real Bipartisan work horse. Bill did allot of good.
The divide the hate, the craziness. It needs to stop. We are just tearing apart the country and ourselves for nothing. Its insanity. I hope for a great age of bipartisan to come, a golden age to come forth one day.
I am optimist. I will hold out for hope for a better world. Where we can live in peace.
If comments and news here refect the enviorment in the USA. God help us all. I would not know. I have not been back to Boston since 2002.
Dango bong
It is sad that people these days can not accept that other humans may have a different opinion than theirs. People are morons.
Years ago we could talk about differences and agree to disagree.
Dango bong
I hope you are joking. Did you see the economy under Trump, Reagan and Bush compared to Biden, Obama and Clinton?
Are you seriously joking?
Five Families
@dango bong.
Finally the word of reason. Well said.
Some dude
Years ago we could talk about differences and agree to disagree.
Wasn't even "years ago". John McCain shut down that moronic woman who claimed that Obama was a muslim.
Were he still around today, I doubt he'd recognize his own party anymore.
Some dude
I hope you are joking. Did you see the economy under Trump, Reagan and Bush compared to Biden, Obama and Clinton?
Are you seriously joking?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._economic_performance_by_presidential_party#:~:text=In%20February%202021%2C%20The%20New,2.4%20percent%20under%20Republicans%20...
CNN reported in September 2020 that GDP grew 4.1% on average under Democrats, versus 2.5% under Republicans, from 1945 through the second quarter of 2020, a difference of 1.6 percentage points.[3] In February 2021, The New York Times reported: "Since 1933, the economy has grown at an annual average rate of 4.6 percent under Democratic presidents and 2.4 percent under Republicans ... The average income of Americans would be more than double its current level if the economy had somehow grown at the Democratic rate for all of the past nine decades."[12] The Washington Post reported that average GDP growth under Trump for his first three years in office was 2.5%; when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, GDP for his fourth year in office fell 6.5%.[13]
Bad Haircut
Absolutely. I was having lunch the other day with an Aussie friend I hadn't seen in years. Some of our conversation was on politics. He leans left and I lean right. We agreed on some things and disagreed on other stuff, then moved on to other topics with no bad blood between us. That's how it should be.
Daniel Neagari
⇩This comment show how much poorly informed or disconnected from reality are the Trumpians. Rusia = left??? hahahahaha
BlacklabelToday 03:07 pm JST
then why were you crying over it and leftists blaming Russia? Lol
if you crying over that, I really feel bad for you after tomorrow. You gonna have a rough day. lol
wallace
bass4funk
The racism from the police happened under Trump in 2020.
Racism started 250 years ago with black slavery.
dagon
Just wait until tomorrow.
There are few highly logical Vulcans like me and none amongst Trump/MAGA.
That is why those panic buttons are being pushed stateside.
May the wind be always at your back.
Bad Haircut
This is the funniest thing I've read all day. Thanks!
Some dude
Dango bongToday 03:11 pm JST
It is sad that people these days can not accept that other humans may have a different opinion than theirs
Right?
Person A: "I think it is one of the great blights on humanity that the holocaust occurred"
Person B: "I dunno, I thought it was kind of funny"
Person A: "Well, let's agree to disagree and part as friends!"
Person B: "Yes, let's!"
Five Families
@wasabi.
All you say is very true. Trump off the rails is very scary.
If he should get elected those he appoints to his cabinet. I hope can keep him steered in the right direction.
Economy.
Lower interest rates.
Cost of living manageable.
Food prices lowered.
Affordable health care.
More tax breaks for independent contractors.
Affordable childcare.
No tax on tips. (my wife)
Keeping gas car manufacturing going.
Trump Vance. A necessary evil for me.
Not a MAGA minion just a right to center Republican looking for some relief.
I know all we see is a sea of red hats. But there are some like me who just want normalcy and Bipartisan to return.
Peter14
Amusing statement given even more people hold that in reverse. Trump is not now, and never was fit to be President. Now that his cognitive ability is in steep decline, it is even more applicable. GOP are voting on a Vance Presidency in reality.
Any way its looked at, Kamala is the best option for America. The only option to keep America democratic and out of the hands of Putin, Kim and Xi. Trumps greatest pals.