Drones, Snipers, and Panic Buttons: How the U.S. Is Securing the Presidential Election

The United States has significantly intensified its election security efforts on the eve of the forty-seventh presidential election. Authorities have ramped up drone patrols and deployed snipers to combat potential violence and unconstitutional activities related to the election. They have also prepared comprehensive response protocols based on lessons learned from the Capitol Riot that followed the 2020 election.

The Washington Post reported on Sunday that, as the U.S. presidential election approaches, law enforcement agencies have implemented comprehensive security measures to ensure the integrity of the voting process and address potential post-election challenges. These preparations include deploying drone surveillance, stationing snipers at key locations, and equipping poll workers with emergency ‘panic buttons’ to respond swiftly to any incidents. 

Both Nevada and Washington have mobilized federal guard units in anticipation of potential unrest. The Arizona Secretary of State mentioned they are preparing bulletproof vests as a precautionary measure.

These heightened federal precautions stem from the January 6, 2021, Capitol Riot. Supporters of Trump stormed the Capitol building in an attempt to prevent the election certification of President Joe Biden. The Trump supporters refused to accept Trump’s defeat, alleging widespread voter fraud.

The Washington Post reported on an analysis from an American “extremist monitoring organization,” “In the years following the 2020 election, election denialism has become entrenched as a core tenet of the Republican Party,” and added that it has “transitioned towards pro-Trump factions that preemptively reject the election defeat.”

Recent polls indicate that the upcoming presidential election could result in a razor-thin margin, fueling concerns that disputes may persist even after the results are announced on Election Day.

Trump himself has cast doubt on the integrity of early voting, suggesting “some issues” and hinting at the possibility of contesting the election results depending on the outcome.

Polling data underscores the prevalence of election denialism concerns. A recent Scripps News and Ipsos survey revealed that 8% of respondents would “employ all necessary means, including violence, to ensure the victory of their preferred candidate.”

Alarmingly, only 77% of respondents in this survey stated they would accept the election results if their preferred candidate lost. This stark reality has prompted authorities to focus most of their security measures on the post-election period.