Nov. 3 promises to be an Election Day unlike any other, and public safety entities say they’re preparing for tensions and the possibility of violence.
Poll workers are usually the first line of defense in case of disputes between voters, though they may be backed up by private security guards. Some local election authorities say they’ll be adding guards, and Washington state’s King County says it will post guards to ballot drop boxes that in other years have been unattended.
Most jurisdictions are not planning to post uniformed police at polling stations, because tradition and local laws keep officers at a distance to avoid an impression of voter intimidation. If things get out of hand, police are usually allowed in if called.
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