by Dave Williams | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA – U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., is asking the Justice Department (DOJ) and the FBI to make sure they’re taking steps to protect election workers this year and ensure the efficient administration of elections.
In a letter dated Tuesday, Ossoff requested that the agencies detail their processes for receiving and responding to threats, the steps they’re taking to make sure staffing needs are met, and how they plan to enforce laws aimed at protecting election workers..
“Protecting the integrity of our elections depends on protecting those who run them,” Ossoff wrote. “Yet over the last several years, election workers in Georgia and across the country have reported increased intimidation, harassment, and threats of violence.
“(The) DOJ must ensure the safety of election workers across the country in order to protect free and fair elections. I urge the DOJ and FBI to prioritize efforts to protect our election workers and to investigate any such threats expeditiously.”
Ossoff went on to cite a survey of election officials earlier this year in which 38% of the respondents reported experiencing harassment or abuse in their role.
In February, Ossoff joined Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., chair of the Senate Rules Committee, in pushing for significant funding in the federal budget to maintain and improve election infrastructure, keep up with emerging technology including artificial intelligence, and improve cybersecurity capabilities to combat new threats. Klobuchar’s committee has oversight authority over federal elections.
