U.S. Elections: Heightened security measures across battleground states amid concerns of political violence
As the U.S. prepares for a tense presidential election between Republican Donald Trump and Democratic Kamala Harris, concerns about potential political violence have prompted heightened security measures across key battleground states.
In Nevada, Governor Joe Lombardo announced last week that he had deployed a “limited contingent” of 60 National Guard members to ensure a swift response to any potential challenges.
Similarly, in Arizona, a metal fence surrounds the Maricopa County tabulation centre in Phoenix, which was a hotspot for conspiracy theories and threats in 2020. Sheriff Russ Skinner has placed his department on high alert, with drones, snipers, and additional resources on standby to prevent violence.
In Michigan, security has been increased around Detroit’s absentee ballot counting centre, with metal detectors, police patrols, and even officers on the roof.
Peter Simi, a sociology professor at Chapman University in California who has researched threats against public officials, said the worst scenario would be Trump losing and not conceding defeat.
Rather than a repeat of the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters, he said conflict could be “dispersed, diffuse events across multiple locations” that would be more difficult for law enforcement to address.
Besides the battleground states, Oregon and Washington state authorities have activated the National Guard. Moreover, some shopfront windows in Washington DC, and elsewhere have been covered by plywood.
