Situation Room: Violence at polling places in Texas and South Carolina exemplifies the need to prepare for escalating tensions on Election Day.
Resource Library: Bridging Divides Initiativeprovides research-backed skills and training for de-escalating contentious episodes at the polling place.
Planning Desk: Prepare your media relations plan now to foster a positive partnership with local media covering your elections.
Tension Escalated to Assault
In a climate of heightened political tension, election officials are increasingly subjected to threats and harassment. A variety of issues can generate high-stress moments, from a credible bomb threat to a tabulator breaking down with a voter line that keeps growing. Confusion, delays, and exasperation in those moments can translate to anxious energy and may result in intentional or unintentional action.
Poll workers are often the first line of response when tensions rise. The following 2024 incidents show ... READ MORE HERE.
The Situation Room focuses on real security incidents and threats in the news relevant to election security. To review previous issues, see thenewsletter archive.
De-escalation Skills for Election Officials
De-escalation skills are essential for managing volatile situations before they spiral.Princeton University’s Bridging Divides Initiative (BDI)equips officials at every level of government with practical, research-backed resources and facilitates training through their collaborative network. TheirDe-Escalation Guidance for Poll Workersis a one-page, quick reference guide designed to prepare election officials and poll workers for preventing, mitigating, and de-escalating potential tensions during the voting process.
The foundation of BDI’s training and resources is the CLARA method, a simple framework anyone can use to defuse tension or harmful behavior:
Calm and Center Yourself: Check in with yourself. Appear calm, centered, and self-assured even if you don’t feel it. Avoid pointing, crossing your arms, or other more aggressive postures.
Listen: Let the person vent. Listen actively for feelings, needs, or values.
Acknowledge: Begin by acknowledging the feelings, needs, or values you have heard. This is not about agreeing with their position, statement, or behavior. For example: “I sense your aggravation at this situation. I hear your concern for safety.”
Respond: After acknowledgment, if there is a further threat of harassment or violence, offer open-ended or open-choice questions, address the issue, and make a clear request or proposal. For example: “Will you tell me more about your concerns?” or “I understand you have every right to feel angry, but it's not ok to threaten people here.”
Assess: Trust your instincts. If de-escalation is not working, stop and get help.
The Resource Library section of the newsletter spotlights election security resources. All highlighted resources are available online in the Resource Library.
Week E-32: Prepare your media relations plan!
When it comes to election security, public perception can be as important as reality. When the two don’t match, public confidence in the election can diminish based on unfounded concern. A media engagement plan and an established relationship with the local media can help you leverage media outlets to keep the public informed during routine election administration and when responding to any unanticipated developments.
Identify media partners and build relationships early. Make a list of the local reporters you trust. Revisit past stories to review their approach and experience with elections. Reach out to them proactively, pitch a positive story, and establish your office as the trusted source of election information.
Develop common themes for your messaging and draft talking points. Prepare simple, concise messages about standard election processes (e.g., early voting, mail ballot deadlines, and results tabulating and reporting). Focus on transparency and building trust in the integrity of your systems. Engage your communications person or team to refine talking points and review written communications before releasing them.
Schedule a “Media Day” in advance of the election. Devote time to exchanging information with the media and answering questions about your processes. Review key laws, requirements, and timelines, and remind them of certain nuances, such as results potentially changing between election night and official reporting, that might otherwise seem irregular if not explained in advance. Consider inviting them to observe normal operations in your office, voting locations, or a ballot processing center.
Implement a standard process for handling media inquiries. Clearly establish which staff are authorized to engage with the media. Train them on your talking points to maintain consistent messaging.
Prepare an emergency response strategy for media communications. Develop a plan for media communications when responding to unanticipated events: include press release templates, holding statements, and social media strategy. Rehearse response scenarios with staff, communications teams, and key response partners such as local law enforcement and emergency management. Outline this response plan with the media at your “Media Day” so that they know what to expect.
Media contacts turnover just as election staff do. Make outreach a habit at the start of every cycle, brief newcomers on your processes, and flag any changes to election laws, systems, or timelines before they become a story.
The Planning Desk is a running timeline of key election security tasks. You can find prior editions in thenewsletter archive.
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