Last Saturday, election workers throughout the country faced another high-profile attack. A presidential candidate posted on Truth Social, threatening to prosecute a wide range of people, including so-called “corrupt” election officials. He promised to impose long prison sentences on an unprecedented number of perceived enemies.

The steady, thorough work of election administrators has withstood court cases, investigations, and public scrutiny. The candidate’s latest attempt to target election administrators has immediate impact, regardless of the outcome of the presidential contest. As Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said, these comments “give the potential for bad actors to take them as a call to arms. We need to protect our election officials and our poll workers. We need to be prepared for just about anything.”

David Becker of the Center for Election Innovation & Research said, “I can’t begin to describe the abnormality and disturbing behavior that would cause a presidential candidate, a former president, to threaten public servants with mass arrest.”

Seth Bluestein, a Republican member of Philadelphia’s Board of Elections, said, “Every election official I know will be focused on doing their job well, which unfortunately includes preparing for threats of violence.”

Election workers, as you prepare for the coming months, we hope that you and your colleagues will not need our services. But, if you do, please don’t hesitate to reach out to EOLDN. Our nationwide network of experienced pro bono attorneys is standing by to help you.