US election threats value native governments hundreds of thousands in safety

By Erin Hudson and Skylar Woodhouse, Bloomberg Information

With threats to election officers on the rise since 2020, native governments have been spending hundreds of thousands of {dollars} to extend protections for voters, ballot staff, ballots and gear.

About 92% of native election officers say they’ve taken steps for the reason that final presidential cycle to extend safety for voters, election staff or election infrastructure, in response to a survey earlier this yr by the Brennan Middle for Justice. These measures vary from cybersecurity protections to bodily enhancements for election workplace or polling websites. All the pieces from the price of paper for poll printing to know-how upgrades to bodily facility enhancements is hitting budgets.

“The price for securing elections is barely rising day-to-day due to new threats,” stated Isaac Cramer, a South Carolina elections official and one of many legislative chairs for the Nationwide Affiliation of Election Officers.

Administering elections — from the poll printing to the ballot station safety — is the duty of native authorities, and the decentralized nature makes it troublesome to tally a complete value for the 2024 contest, however officers together with these in swing states like Georgia and Wisconsin, agree that prices are climbing.

Though billions have been offered by Congress for election safety in recent times, native governments say it isn’t sufficient and officers have spent closely to improve numerous election facets, like new amenities and employee coaching. Whereas federal grants exist, the demand far outpaces the necessity and in some states — like South Carolina and Wisconsin — federal {dollars} aren’t distributed under the state stage, so prices are borne by county and municipalities’ normal funds.

Cramer, who’s in command of administering elections in Charleston County, South Carolina, stated the county has spent greater than $500,000 since 2020 in safety, plus a brand new constructing that can in the end value upwards of $7 million.

“Counties cowl the prices of administering federal elections,” he advised a senate committee whereas testifying earlier this yr. “The federal authorities ought to pay its fair proportion.”