Mary McCord:
I’m more worried about the days to follow.
Many things have come into play to protect voters and election workers on Election Day. First of all, unlike four years ago, I mean, we have seen this movie before, right? So election officials at the local level, at the state level, law enforcement across parties, community organizations, mayors have all worked together really over these four years to make sure that they can provide a safe voting venue, not only for the voters, but also for the poll workers, right?
And if that means more security, they have it. If it means different facets of law enforcement presence, again, carefully, so it doesn’t intimidate voters, because law enforcement in voting sometimes itself can be intimidation. But they have worked individually, community by community, to create plans that will work.
I also think that the effect of over 1,500 prosecutions coming out of the January 6 attack has made — has been a real deterrent for those who would otherwise maybe think about engaging in armed and even unarmed forms of voter intimidation.
There’s been tons and tons of public education and statements and people in positions of authority talking about voter intimidation. DOJ has been forward-leading. And a lot of these people, I think they see others who’ve gotten in trouble. That wasn’t voter intimidation. That was a violent attack.
But, still, they know this could cross — things could cross the line. I’m more worried about after the election.