Dear John,

It is a shameful reality reflective of nearly ten years of violence-tinged rhetoric from Donald Trump: Threats of political violence, including death threats and harassment against election workers, are higher now than they have been in decades, possibly in more than a century since the U.S. Civil War.

Recently, armed protesters descended upon vote counting centers, as suspicious packages from the “U.S. Traitor Elimination Army,” containing fentanyl and suspicious white powder were sent to over a dozen state election offices. The white powder turned out to be flour, but the assault rifles used in two apparent assassination attempts on Trump’s life were loaded with real ammunition.

Meanwhile, election workers are quitting at the highest rate in over twenty years. In the last four years, more than a third of the country’s election offices have changed their leadership. We are seeing threats and intimidation become significant forms of voter suppression. How many people will avoid going to the polls if they fear potential violence there?

Send a message to your governor: Protect the election from harassment and violent extremists! Authorize increased emergency funding for polling place security now.

Since the violence of the January 6 insurrection, which was connected with several deaths, Trump has only increased his own violent rhetoric. No wonder 73% of voters are worried about political violence, after this year’s election results are announced.

Meanwhile, Trump continues to lay the groundwork to claim that any loss he experiences will be due to fraud, and 81% of Americans -- more than 4 out of 5 -- believe our democracy itself is under threat.

In Maricopa County, Arizona, vote-counting has become so fraught with controversy that election officials have responded to threats with over $3 million worth of fortifications: bullet-proof glass, multiple fences, and even rooftop snipers.

But many election offices simply don’t have enough funding to provide improved security. Most election facilities will not -- and should not -- have rooftop snipers, but we do want enough security for workers and voters to feel safe.

That’s why we’re urging governors to set aside additional emergency funding to improve polling place security now. There is no time to waste.

Thank you for protecting our democracy!

Robert Reich
Inequality Media Civic Action