Nearly half of election officials concerned about politically motivated investigations

Survey Reveals Growing Concern Among Election Officials Over Political Investigations

Nearly half of local election officials harbor concerns about politically motivated investigations targeting their work, according to a recent survey conducted by the Brennan Center for Justice.

Specifically, forty-six percent of local election officials expressed at least some level of apprehension regarding potential politically driven investigations into their actions or those of their peers. Alarmingly, 18 percent described themselves as “very concerned” about such inquiries.

This rising anxiety among election officials is a direct fallout from the tumultuous aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, during which then-President Donald Trump and his supporters propagated conspiracy theories about ballot manipulation, alleging that the election results—marked by his loss—were fraudulent.

While Trump and various Republican figures have consistently called for heightened “election integrity,” they have simultaneously distanced themselves from state and local election officials across the nation. The conservative initiative known as Project 2025, which outlines a policy framework in anticipation of Trump’s potential second term, explicitly endorses the investigation and prosecution of election officials. Additionally, following Joe Biden’s anticipated loss in 2024, a parallel wave of conspiracy theories regarding a “rigged” election has emerged among some left-leaning circles online, albeit without the endorsement of Democratic leadership.

In April, Trump initiated an investigation into Chris Krebs, the former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency during the 2020 election. Reports indicate that the Justice Department is exploring possible criminal charges against state and local election officials who may have breached election security protocols. Furthermore, the DOJ has been seeking information from several states concerning their management of voter rolls.

Lawrence Norden, vice president of the Elections and Government Program at the Brennan Center, attributes the heightened concern about politically charged investigations to the rhetoric used by Trump and actions taken by his administration. “A few years ago, if someone had told me that 46 percent of election officials would be worried about politically motivated investigations, I would have been astounded,” he remarked. “The fact that nearly half of election officials now express such concern is alarming in a democracy.”

Seventeen percent of local election officials reported being at least somewhat apprehensive about facing pressure to certify election results favoring a specific candidate or party, up from 12 percent in a similar Brennan Center survey conducted last year.

“If we aspire for free and fair elections, it’s disconcerting that nearly one in five election officials fear interference in the certification process,” Norden added. “That’s a concerning statistic.”

The survey further revealed that 36 percent of local election officials have experienced harassment or abuse related to their roles, while 16 percent reported threats of violence. A significant 52 percent expressed at least some concern regarding the safety of their fellow staff members.

Conducted between April 15 and May 17, the Brennan Center Research Department surveyed 858 local election officials, with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points. A previous survey in 2024 reached 928 officials, also with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points, and the results were adjusted, yielding shifts of 4 percentage points or fewer.

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