Priya Patel
TLDR:
- Presidents’ Day weekend in the US brings warnings about election security threats in 2024
- State and county officials urged to use paper ballots over electronic ones and prepare for potentially lethal substances like fentanyl, anthrax, and ricin
In time for the long Presidents’ Day weekend in the US, there have been multiple warnings about what will undoubtedly be a challenging and potentially dangerous year for voting processes and government workers. State and county officials have been urged to use paper ballots wherever possible over electronic ones, and ensure all election offices have procedures in place to handle potentially lethal substances, specifically fentanyl, anthrax, and ricin. Meanwhile, there are concerns about the growing threat of election-related disinformation, fueled by AI and social media.
Foreign fake-news seeks to ‘undermine democracies’ Americans have proven we don’t need Russian or Chinese trolls to push election-related fake news on social networks. But now, the US, UK, and Canadian governments have pledged to combat foreign “information manipulation” that aims to “undermine our democracies and human rights globally.”
Additionally, election administrators need to worry about how completed ballots are returned to state and county offices, and whether they have proper training and equipment in case of receiving toxic substances in the mail. The risks of electronic ballot return technologies are high, and precautions should be taken to secure the return of voted ballots to ensure ballot integrity and voter privacy.
Physical safety of election workers is also a concern, with reports of hazardous materials being sent through the mail. Election offices are advised to have procedures in place to handle potentially dangerous mail and respond to exposure to hazardous materials.
The 2024 election season is expected to be fraught with challenges, and addressing these election security threats will be crucial in maintaining the integrity of the voting process.
