Swatting in Elections: A Law Enforcement Briefing

Swatting can turn a false report into a serious public safety issue—particularly when the target is an election official or an election administration related facility. For law enforcement agencies, preparing for these incidents before they happen can help protect election officials while maintaining an appropriate, informed response to a potentially dangerous situation.

Swatting in Elections: A Law Enforcement Briefing from the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections (CSSE) provides practical guidance specifically for law enforcement responding to swatting threats involving election officials. Standard swatting protocols still apply, but election settings present unique circumstances that officers, dispatchers, and agency leaders should be prepared for before an incident occurs.

Built around CSSE’s Five Steps to Safer Elections—Meet, Share, Agree, Plan, Practice—the briefing encourages law enforcement agencies to establish relationships with local election officials, exchange contact information, understand the election operating environment, and develop protocols for verification and proportionate response. It also recommends incorporating swatting into written election security plans and tabletop exercises with election offices.

The goal is straightforward: prepare before the call comes in. By coordinating ahead of time, law enforcement and election officials can more quickly verify information, protect potential targets, reduce unnecessary escalation, and prevent a false report from becoming a real crisis.