New poll reveals high levels of harassment and abuse faced by poll workers

One in three local election officials have experienced threats, harassment, and abuse, a new poll shows.

According to the poll from the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, 38% of poll workers said they have faced mistreatment at work, which is an increase from the 30% reported in 2023.

They said they most commonly receive threats in person or via phone calls. Forty-five percent of poll workers have received threats on social media. Half of the threats to workers go unreported.

Seventy percent of election officials believe threats have increased since the 2020 election, while 27% believe they stayed about the same.

Poll workers not only are concerned about their own safety, but also the safety of their colleagues. More than half of respondents said they were worried about a co-worker’s safety.

Threats are driving poll workers to leave their jobs. Thirty-four percent of people polled said they know someone or many people who have left their jobs due to threats. High turnover of poll workers is also another problem. A quarter of election officials who said they will work the 2024 general election said they did not plan to work the 2026 midterm elections.

Sixty-two percent of poll workers expressed concerns about politicians and other political leaders interfering with how election officials do their jobs.

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In Wisconsin, the nonpartisan election commission administrator, Meagan Wolfe, has been granted additional security from the governor due to attacks from former President Donald Trump.

“Donald Trump’s most recent comments about Administrator Wolfe are vile and disturbing. He’s also wrong. Administrator Wolfe serves with integrity, she is trusted and respected by her colleagues both in Wisconsin and beyond, and I continue to have full confidence in her leadership,” Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI) said. “I can’t say the same about Donald Trump.”