By Irene Anastasiadis
Boston University News Service
Early voting in Massachusetts will begin in less than a month, and election security is already in question. Suspicious packages were sent to election officials in Massachusetts and other states in late September, prompting an FBI investigation.
“The FBI notified our office that USPS Inspection Services had identified a suspicious envelope that had been addressed to our Elections Division,” said Deborah O’Malley, Director of Communications for the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, in an email to BUNS.
O’Malley could not provide further comment due to the ongoing federal investigation.
Unfortunately, threats to election officials are common in America. The Brennan Center for Justice Research Department created a survey entirely on local election officials and their perceptions and lived experiences on safety and security at their jobs. This survey was conducted between February and March 2024, with 928 local election officials responding.
“More than 1 in 3 election officials have experienced threats, harassment or abuse,” according to Brennan Center data. This has risen eight percent from 30% in 2023 to 38% in 2024.
Northeastern student Mahitha Gudipaty, 20, had no previous knowledge of the recent threat on election official security, but as a first-time voter, Gudipaty hopes that when she casts her vote it will remain authentic.
“I’m…a little concerned about my vote and voter security in general in Massachusetts, but it is my first time voting, so nonetheless, I am very excited,” Gudipaty said.
Election security is a vital component of a democracy. The definition of election security is not limited to the tools and practices safeguarding the voting process itself, but creating a safe environment for election officials working at the polls and for citizens to leave their homes and place their vote.
As a result of this prominent issue, The Department of Justice formed an Election Threats Task Force in 2021. About a month before this task force was created, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco released a memo about the increase in threats against election workers.
“To protect the franchise for all voters, we must identify threats against those responsible for administering elections, whether federal, state, or local,” Monaco wrote in her June 2021 memo.
Boston University student Mahee Nemani, 19, is eager to cast her vote this November. She believes in the importance of everyone’s voice being heard and trusting the democratic process.
Nemani and her friend, Madison Wei, told BUNS that these recent threats directed towards election officials will not deter them from going to vote.
“There are also other ways to vote, like mail-in ballots, if I’m afraid to go in person,” Nemani said. Wei said she just received her mail-in ballot and is ready to vote.
