Gird Your Loins (But Seriously): Americans Are Worried About Election-Related Violence

Ballot boxes on fire and threats at polling stations are deeply worrying. But there is an off-ramp.

The closer we get to Election Day, the more the question becomes inescapable: What happens after Election Day?

In the aftermath of the 2020 election, then-President Donald Trump’s quest to hold on to power, first by challenging his loss and then by an ever-increasing pressure campaign on those responsible for confirming the results, culminated in a historic act of political violence: the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Now, coming up to the finish line of the next presidential election, there are indications that Americans are again worried about the possibility of political violence.

In a Scripps News/Ipsos poll released Oct. 24, 62% of Americans surveyed said that violence related to the election was “somewhat” or “very” likely, with a majority of both Republicans (59%) and Democrats (70%) agreeing that was the case.

There have already been worrying instances of actual violence against people and processes as the election draws near: Ballot boxes have been set on fire in several states, and there have been threats of violence at polling stations. And there have been two apparent assassination attempts against Trump.

U.S. intelligence has also warned about the possibility of violence and unrest. Reports from various news publications revealed that intelligence agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, had sent local law enforcement agencies a number of bulletins warning that domestic “violent” extremists were a threat to the election and its aftermath, with candidates, election workers and others considered targets. The bulletins also warned of violence at polling places, ballot boxes and political events, according to NBC News.