Election Officials in Communities of Color Face More Abuse

Joe Raedle/Getty

July 17, 2024 Story by: Editor

One key strategy in the playbook of election deniers is spreading false claims of voter fraud, particularly targeting cities with large populations of people of color . Such falsehoods endanger the lives of election workers nationwide by inciting threats, harassment, and abuse. According to the Brennan Center’s latest annual survey of election officials, those serving communities of color were disproportionately targeted by these attacks.

Following the 2020 election, Donald Trump’s campaign team filed numerous lawsuits contesting the results, primarily focusing on urban centers with higher percentages of voters of color compared to surrounding areas. At a late November 2020 press conference, Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani cast doubt on the results in the predominantly Black city of Philadelphia by falsely asserting, “Unless you’re... stupid, you knew that a lot of people were coming over from Camden[, New Jersey,] to vote. They do every year... And it’s allowed to happen because it’s a Democrat, corrupt city, and has been for years.” Such claims were echoed by outlets like Newsmax and other prominent election deniers, including Trump.

In Michigan, the campaign’s fraud accusations targeted Detroit , where the population is nearly 80 percent Black, rather than nearby predominantly white counties where Joe Biden also won by significant margins. In Wisconsin, Trump focused on Milwaukee, which has the highest percentage of voters of color in the state. He accused the county of counting ballots slowly to perpetrate fraud, despite Wisconsin election officials being legally required to wait until Election Day to count mail-in ballots.

Given election deniers’ focus on casting doubt on results in districts with mostly nonwhite populations, it is logical that the election officials working in these areas would face higher rates of abuse. The Brennan Center’s 2024 survey of election officials confirms this conclusion. Although it’s impossible to draw a direct line from these attacks to officials’ experiences, the data shows that election officials serving these communities reported more intimidation and safety concerns.

The survey revealed that 38 percent of all election officials experienced harassment, abuse, or threats due to their job, with more than a quarter fearing assault at home or work. These figures were high across jurisdictions, regardless of size or demographics, but particularly elevated in counties with majority Hispanic or people of color populations.

Over half of the election officials in these counties reported harassment or abuse, compared to 36 percent of all officials. They were also twice as likely to have been threatened than their counterparts in majority-white counties.

This trend extends to other safety concerns. Election officials in counties with majority Hispanic or people of color populations were more than twice as likely to be very concerned about being assaulted at home or work in future elections compared to the average election official and nearly twice as likely to be very concerned about verbal harassment at home or work. Forty-one percent of officials serving these counties expressed concern about their family or loved ones being threatened or harassed, compared to 28 percent of all officials. They were also more worried about being targeted in a “swatting” incident, with 40 percent expressing concern compared to 23 percent of all officials.

Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss testified before the House January 6 Committee that after Rudy Giuliani publicly accused them of election fraud, their lives changed overnight due to hundreds of threats . Freeman and Moss served in Fulton County, where a majority of residents are people of color.

As election officials have transitioned from working largely behind the scenes to becoming entangled in election denial controversies, 70 percent reported that threats have increased since the Big Lie of a “stolen” election began in 2020. When leaders specifically target communities of color with false claims of fraud, the election officials serving these communities become targets as well. The Brennan Center has consistently advocated for sufficient funding of elections to replace outdated voting machines and protect against insider threats. Election officials also need proper resources to implement critical security measures for their staff’s safety. Officials serving counties with a majority of residents of color bear a disproportionate lack of funding: while 31 percent of all election officials indicated that their budgets need significant increases to meet administration and security needs, 55 percent of officials in communities of color reported the same. They also face more obstacles, with 43 percent stating that their budget requests have been denied, compared to 25 percent of all election officials. (Election officials and their supporters can learn about how to access non-local funding for election security through the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections .) Source: Brennan Center for Justice overnight due to hundreds of threats. Freeman and Moss served in Fulton County, where a majority of residents are people of color.

As election officials have transitioned from working largely behind the scenes to becoming entangled in election denial controversies, 70 percent reported that threats have increased since the Big Lie of a “stolen” election began in 2020. When leaders specifically target communities of color with false claims of fraud, the election officials serving these communities become targets as well.

The Brennan Center has consistently advocated for sufficient funding of elections to replace outdated voting machines and protect against insider threats. Election officials also need proper resources to implement critical security measures for their staff’s safety. Officials serving counties with a majority of residents of color bear a disproportionate lack of funding: while 31 percent of all election officials indicated that their budgets need significant increases to meet administration and security needs, 55 percent of officials in communities of color reported the same. They also face more obstacles, with 43 percent stating that their budget requests have been denied, compared to 25 percent of all election officials. (Election officials and their supporters can learn about how to access non-local funding for election security through the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections.) Source: Brennan Center for Justice