Law enforcement officials focus on safety ahead of Election Day

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

Law enforcement officials in Utah are prioritizing voter and election worker safety ahead of Election Day.
No specific threats against the election have been identified, in Salt Lake City, but officials are prepared to address potential incidents.

SALT LAKE CITY — Law enforcement officials in Utah and across the country are focused on voter and election worker safety in the days leading up to Election Day on Tuesday.

Most Utahns are expected to cast their ballot by mail or use ballot drop boxes, but the Salt Lake City Police Department emphasized their efforts to keep polling places safe on Election Day.

"In the days, weeks, and months leading up to the 2024 election, the SLCPD has taken proactive steps to increase training and operational readiness," the department said in a news release Thursday. "The SLCPD has modified its staffing position around Election Day and is prepared to respond to any level of crisis to restore stability and safety."

The department said there "are no specific or known threats related to the election or post-election events in Salt Lake City." It is working with law enforcement officials from other cities, the county and state, as well as the federal government, to respond to any threats or incidents that arise.

Threats against elected officials have increased in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, according to Utah's Department of Public Safety, which has monitored online threats this week against Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, the state's top election official.

Federal officials are also tasked with enforcing laws that protect voters from discrimination and intimidation, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The department's National Security Division oversees threats to national security from information operations from foreign actors, computer hacking operations and international or domestic terrorists.

Utahns can report threats, intimidation, or alleged fraud to district election officials and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Watson by calling 801-325-3311.

Police also urge calling 911 to report suspicious or criminal activity.

Salt Lake police will monitor criminal behavior around elections, including:

assaults.
blocking access to public buildings or interfering with the election.
blocking streets or vehicular traffic, especially on freeways and other major roads.
criminal mischief and property damage.
intimidation.
arson.
unlawful possession or use of weapons.

"The (Salt Lake City Police Department) is committed to helping ensure public safety and will take all necessary actions to protect our community," the department said.

The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.