As the nation barrels toward another highly charged presidential election, the threats to election offices that have been an alarming consequence of Trump’s false claims about his 2020 loss loom as a perilous wildcard for the thousands of local government workers who will oversee the indispensable infrastructure of the nation’s democracy.
The constant threats and harassment have contributed to an exodus of election officials across the country.
Tina Barton, a former city clerk who oversaw elections in suburban Detroit, has been on a mission to help election workers stay safe. She left her job shortly after the 2020 election and later became part of the newly formed Committee for Safe and Secure Elections.
Barton understands the pressure election officials are under. She has given nearly 100 presentations throughout the country, training election workers on how they can respond to threats and work with law enforcement to counter them.
“None of these scenarios are sensational,” Barton tells the group. “They are all things that have already happened in some way, shape or form across the country.”
Barton’s partner in the trainings is Justin Smith, the former sheriff in Larimer County, Colorado. Smith often speaks directly to the police officers and sheriff’s deputies in the room, explaining the role they play in elections.
“It’s not that simple anymore,” Smith tells the group. “We need to be at the table and be part of the solution.”
Barton guides the election officials through various scenarios and encourages them to think through their responses, when it makes sense to alert law enforcement and when to consider releasing information to the public.
“I know there’s been some, maybe disgruntlement across the country from some election officials that feel that they haven’t gotten the response from law enforcement that they thought law enforcement should give,” Barton tells the election officials.
“So these conversations help us understand what they can actually do in those scenarios and what they can’t do.”
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said it’s imperative for law enforcement and election officials to work together to ensure a smooth election in November.
A survey last year by the Brennan Center for Justice found that about 1 in 5 election workers knew someone who left their election job for safety reasons and nearly three-quarters of local election officials said harassment had increased.
Barton emphasized to the clerks the importance of having access to mental health services.
Even as the clerks prepare for November, many of them expressed concerns over what they could face.
“You can build that trust because everyone – law enforcement and election officials – 99% of them are there for the right reasons and with a true heart for service,” Marentette said.
Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael D. Shea said he was surprised at how vulnerable election officials can be because of the requirements associated with their job.
“The goal is a safe, secure, fair election,” said Shea, who attended the training. “And we intend to make that happen.”
