Summary
Over the past few years, including during the 2026 primary season, polling places, election offices, and ballot drop boxes have been targeted by explosive or incendiary devices.
What happened
Last week, an “unknown explosive device” was thrown from a vehicle near a polling location in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, during the state’s 2026 primary election. The device detonated roughly half a block away from a church serving as a polling place that day. Investigators found no evidence that the incident was connected to the polling location, according to WFMZ-TV in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
In February, during early voting for the March 2026 primary election in Moore County, North Carolina, a flash-bang device was thrown from a vehicle
approximately 150 yards away from a polling place. The incident did not cause any injuries or property damage.
In 2025, the Archuleta County elections office in Colorado was firebombed after someone threw a Molotov cocktail through a window.
In 2024, multiple ballot drop boxes were set on fire after someone drove up and placed incendiary devices inside them.
Why this matters
These incidents reflect a recognized pattern of incendiary devices threatening election infrastructure, including voting locations, offices, and ballot drop boxes. Not all cases have been confirmed as deliberate attacks on election facilities. Election disruptions can occur regardless of whether an incident directly targets election infrastructure. Being prepared and knowing how to respond is paramount to reducing the impact and ensuring the disruption is not catastrophic.
What to do now
Although it's challenging to know what may happen, you can consider the following steps to prepare:
- Partner: Build a relationship with law enforcement before an incident occurs. The Committee for Safe and Secure Elections (CSSE) and the Election Security Exchange have resources for working with law enforcement and building out election security working groups.
- Assess: Conduct a physical security assessment of your election offices, voting locations, and ballot drop boxes. Law enforcement may be able to assist with this. CSSE, CISA, and the Election Security Exchange have checklists and guidance documents that can assist.
- Share: Create a list of election offices, voting locations, and ballot drop boxes and share it with law enforcement to strengthen coordination and response.
- Prepare: Develop an incident response plan that addresses fires, threats, and evacuations at your election office, voting locations, and ballot drop boxes. CIS/EI-ISAC and the Election Security Exchange have guidance on preparing for election-related disruptions, including managing evacuations.
- Practice: Exercise your incident response plan to ensure it is up to date and effective.
