As cybersecurity and election infrastructure experts raise alarms about attacks to election security, local authorities are working to stay on top of evolving threats.
These threats can come in many forms, both physical and digital, from ransomware attacks on local governments to violence and harassment at polling places.
Earlier this month, the Steele County Board of Commissioners approved the installation of safety glass in the property tax and elections department, replacing the COVID-era plexiglass shields with more protective material.
During an election security presentation to the board at their Tuesday night meeting, IT Director Dave Purscell noted the unfortunate necessity of the measure.
While Steele County hasn't witnessed direct attacks on election integrity to date, Dave Purscell doesn't see that as reason to grow complacent. In his efforts to protect the electoral process in the county, he strives to maintain open communication with his counterparts in other county governments and keeping an eye on threats around the nation.
Preparation is a matter of "everybody learning from everybody’s worse nightmare," he told the People's Press.
He recently described a number of those nightmare scenarios to the board, gleaned from an election security conference he attended in Orlando alongside employees from state, local, tribal and territorial governments.
While partisan politics has long been a major driver of misinformation in elections, Purscell said there's a growing number of threats not associated with any major political party. "Sovereign citizens," a movement of people who've declared themselves outside the jurisdiction of the U.S. government, have joined the fray in recent years, increasing the number of threats.
Russia and China are the major international sources of misinformation and cyberattacks on election infrastructure, followed by Iran.
"Their primary focus is eroding trust in the election process. That’s really what they’re after, is to have division that’s taking place so people don’t trust that whole process," said Purscell.
He noted that North Korea, another state that frequently engages in cyberattacks, has thus far been relatively uninvolved in American elections.
He noted other examples of election interference, including frivolous Freedom of Information Act requests, designed to access sensitive information or consume government employees' time, calling in fake emergencies at polling places and threatening election workers.
Despite all of the sobering information he presented, Purscell is confident in the measures the county takes to ensure election security.
"It would be very, very difficult — I’d even say impossible — to significantly impact the election process at the county level," he said.
According to Property Tax and Elections Director Jennifer Mueller, Steele County has an election emergency plan in place to ensure the safety of voters and election staff and maintain the integrity of the election.
"Although we have not had any threats in our office to date, all threats, including intimidation and/or disruption will be taken seriously and not tolerated," said Property Tax and Elections Director Jennifer Mueller in a statement.
In 2023, Minnesota passed legislation giving election workers increased protections. Anyone found guilty of intimidating workers, obstructing their access to polling places or otherwise interfering with their duties will be charged with a gross misdemeanor and could pay up to $1,000 for each violation.
The city of Owatonna is responsible for lining up election judges, which it then hands off to the county for training. According to City Administrative Coordinator Jeanette Clawson, the city has over 100 judges registered, and she expects to need them all to keep the polls staffed on Election Day. In the past, residents have reacted strongly to the closing of a polling place, and she said it's important for people to have the opportunity to vote in their own neighborhoods.
"Polls will be open. Everyone get out and vote," said Clawson.
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