HENNEPIN CO. (FOX 9) – US intelligence officials warn that “violent extremists” pose a security threat at this time choice cycle.

What we know

Recent incidents in several states have put election officials on high alert after several fires were reported in ballot boxes.

Two recent incidents occurred in Washington state and Oregon. The preliminary investigation found that the separate fires set at the ballot boxes were caused by incendiary devices.

FOX 9 spoke with local election officials, who said securing the voting process and keeping poll workers safe are the most important.

Specialized analysis

“It’s definitely a different world of elections than when we started years ago,” said Julie Hanson, Scott County’s election administrator. “That’s the hardest part of all of this is that misinformation, misinformation, creating those rifts.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) assessment found that the terrorist threat environment here domestically is multifactorial and points to the potential for “violent extremist responses to sociopolitical developments” surrounding the election.

“We have a constant source of communication for any type of classified information,” Hanson said.
Carver County officials said its election workers, city and township staff have undergone extensive, mandatory safety training.

Hennepin County officials said they are working closely with multiple agencies to monitor both physical and cyber threats to this year’s election cycle.

Hanson said election officials are on high alert: “Now there are definitely more involved conversations with local law enforcement to make sure everyone has every preparation we can think of for every scenario, because you just don’t know “.

Local officials said they want the public to know they can trust the process.

“There is someone like me in every county. There are elected people who work, who do this and who take pride in their work,” Hanson said. “This is a non-partisan process. I am a non-partisan election employee. I do not have, I do not declare a party affiliation.”

Local officials said, fortunately, there have been no known recent threats in our area.

Learn more about a similar DHS report Here.