Congressman Dan Goldman Pushes the Department of Justice to Ensure Election Workers are Safe Ahead of November Elections

 

 

Washington, DC – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) and 59 of his Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to take additional steps to protect election officials, workers, and volunteers in their workers as they carry out their duties during the 2024 election.

 

“According to recent surveys, more than one in three election officials have experienced threats, harassment, or abuse, and more than half who received threats were threatened in person. Additional research has tied this pervasive hostility to concerning levels of turnover among election workers, leading to increased strain on the expertise of those responsible for facilitating our elections,” the Members wrote.

 

In 2021, the Department of Justice acknowledged that its response to threats on election officials following the 2020 election was ‘inadequate’. While the Department’s Elections Threats Task Force demonstrates a strong commitment to election workers well-being, its plans to combat harassment of election workers on and after election day, remain unclear.

 

“With our concerns about threats increasing on and around Election Day itself, we request more information about the Department and the Election Threats Task Force’s rapid response plans to ensure election workers are able to safely, effectively, and securely carry out the 2024 election,” the Members concluded.

 

 

Dear Attorney General Garland and Deputy Attorney General Monaco:

 

We write to express our support of the Department of Justice’s Elections Threats Task Force amidst the severe and concerning attacks levied against election workers around the United States, and to call on the Department to take additional steps to protect election officials, workers, and volunteers: the people responsible for ensuring the success of our democracy.

 

According to recent surveys, more than one in three election officials have experienced threats, harassment, or abuse, and more than half who received threats were threatened in person. Additional research has tied this pervasive hostility to concerning levels of turnover among election workers, leading to increased strain on the expertise of those responsible for facilitating our elections. This turnover is more acute in the most competitive states, where election officials have been particularly targeted for harassment, and where the perception of effective and efficient election administration is particularly important given the scrutiny their results will likely receive.

 

We are concerned that the attacks on election workers will continue and increase as we approach the 2024 elections, and we are especially concerned about threats, harassment, and violence in the immediate run-up to Election Day, on Election Day, and throughout the counting, reporting, and certification process. In 2021, the Department acknowledged that their response to threats on election officials post-2020 election was “inadequate,” and we are grateful for the focus the Department has placed on ensuring a stronger response this election cycle.

 

With our concerns about threats increasing on and around Election Day itself, we request more information about the Department and the Election Threats Task Force’s rapid response plans to ensure election workers are able to safely, effectively, and securely carry out the 2024 election. We kindly request answers to the following questions:

 

1. What is the Department’s plan to ensure threats against election workers are addressed promptly?

 

2. How will the Department coordinate with federal and local law enforcement to determine the validity of a threat and ensure the safety of election workers?

1. What outreach has already occurred to law enforcement to ensure awareness of the proper forums to report threats against election workers and how to receive support from the Department?

2. What outreach has already occurred to local elections officials to ensure they have the resources and capabilities needed to identify and report serious threats?

 

3. How will the Department coordinate with local governments and local election administrators to ensure real-time information sharing regarding the safety of election workers?

1. What outreach has already occurred to local governments and election administrators to ensure awareness of the proper forums to report threats against election workers and how to receive support from the Department?

2. What precautions are being taken to ensure any public-facing updates do not unnecessarily expose local officials’ private information?

3. Does the Department have any dedicated personnel devoted entirely to outreach to election officials in critical periods like this? If not, what personnel is responsible for this outreach?

 

4. What resources, if any, has the Department developed, either on its own or in concert with partners such as CISA or the EAC, to provide security information to election workers?

1. If so, what outreach has been done to increase awareness of these resources?

2. If not, are there plans for developing new resources or updating older ones? Are there plans to engage stakeholders in the development of those resources?

 

5. What financial authorities, if any, has the Department utilized to build local capacity to protect election workers and respond to threats to election workers? 

1. If financial authorities have been used, how?

 

6. What additional Congressional support would aid the Department in protecting election workers?

 

Thank you and the Department for your commitment to keeping the backbone of our democracy safe, and taking steps to ensure that officials are able to carry out free, fair, efficient, safe, and secure elections that enable all of our constituents to have their voices heard. We look forward to continuing to partner with you in defense of our democracy.