Local Election Official Survey Shows We Have More Work to Do

Every year, the Brennan Center surveys local election officials to understand what it actually takes to run elections in America today—not in theory, but in practice.

This year’s findings don’t introduce a new problem. They confirm something many already know firsthand: The threat environment facing election officials is real, persistent, and evolving.

To Election Officials: We See You.

If you’re running elections right now, the data reflects what you’re living. According to the survey, 38% of local election officials report experiencing threats, harassment, or abuse because of their job.

More notably, those threats are not confined to inboxes or social media. 

• 32% of local election officials reported experiencing threats, harassment, or abuse
• 65% experienced threats in person
• 74% occurred at election offices
• 35% at polling sites
• 6% at homes
• 23% fear for their families’ safety

That shift matters because this work was never intended for election officials to think about their personal safety just to do their job.

It’s also taking a human toll. The survey finds that 52% of officials are concerned about the safety of their colleagues, and 26% fear for their families.

At CSSE, we’ve always believed that while election officials are on the frontlines of democracy they shouldn’t have to be their own security detail (not to mention that most don’t have their own security detail).

To Law Enforcement: This Is Our Lane, Too.

If you wear a badge, this report should land just as directly. When threats escalate—when there’s a bomb threat, a swatting call, or a confrontation at a polling place—you are the one who gets the call.

The good news is that coordination is improving. In 2024, 62% of local election officials coordinated with law enforcement for safe and secure elections. This year, 80% of officials said they planned to coordinate with law enforcement.

That progress matters. It reflects real effort on the ground. But it also reveals the gap that still exists.

Too often, coordination is still reactive. Relationships are formed in the moment instead of before it. And that creates unnecessary risk—for election workers, for law enforcement, and for the public.

At CSSE, we view election security the same way law enforcement approaches any major public event: You don’t plan for the Super Bowl on game day. Elections are no different.

Most Election Officials Are Prepared. But There’s Room for Improvement.

One of the clearest findings in the report is not a lack of effort—it’s a lack of consistent preparedness.

Even after the 2024 cycle 1 in 5 officials say they are “not at all prepared” to respond to swatting incidents, and 1 in 7 say they are “not at all prepared” for bomb threats.

These are not hypothetical scenarios. These are incidents that have already happened—and will happen again. And yet, too many jurisdictions are still defining roles in real time, aligning protocols during an incident, and meeting their counterparts for the first time under pressure.

That’s where things break down. Not because people don’t care—but because they haven’t had the chance to plan and practice together.

What We Know Works.

We saw it in 2024. Despite a high-threat environment—including hundreds of bomb threats nationwide—elections were widely described as smooth.

That didn’t happen by accident. It happened because election officials and law enforcement built relationships ahead of time, agreed on roles and responsibilities, planned for real-world scenarios, and practiced those plans.

At CSSE, we call this the Five Steps to Safer Elections: Meet. Share. Agree. Plan. Practice.

This is not a theory. It’s a proven framework. And the jurisdictions that follow it are better equipped to respond when it matters most.

The Resource Reality.

At the same time, the report underscores a growing challenge.

• 80% of officials say their budgets must increase to meet security needs
• 22% have already had budget requests denied

In other words, expectations are rising—but resources are not keeping pace. That makes coordination and preparation even more critical. In a constrained environment, partnership becomes the force multiplier.

Where CSSE Comes In

The Committee for Safe and Secure Elections exists for this very moment. We bring together election officials and law enforcement—not in response to a crisis, but in preparation for one.

Our work focuses on:

• Building trusted relationships at the local level
• Providing practical, scenario-based training
• Supporting elections officials and law enforcement with resilience training 
• Equipping both communities with clear, usable guidance

We believe that preparation doesn’t have to begin with a large investment or a complex plan. It can start with clarity.

That’s why CSSE developed state-specific Law Enforcement Quick Reference Guides.

These guides are designed for real-world use. They provide clear, concise answers to the questions that come up in high-pressure moments:

• What can law enforcement do at a polling place?
• What triggers specific responses?
• What laws apply in your state?

If you’re an election official or in law enforcement, this is one of the simplest ways to get aligned with your counterparts.