A new US intelligence memo warns that insider threats “will likely be a problem” at polling stations on November 5 and “could derail or jeopardize a fair and transparent electoral process.”
It comes as some Donald Trump supporters are already pointing out potential problems with the voting process, reviving fears of legal challenges and violence if the former president loses.
And Trump’s allies have tried to install election deniers throughout the electoral system.
The new bulletin cites the Department of Homeland Security’s definition of an insider threat as someone who “will use their authorized access, knowingly or unknowingly, to cause harm to an entity.”
It was produced by the Colorado Information Analysis Center (CIAC), which compiles intelligence from a number of agencies into threat reports for law enforcement partners.
An intelligence bulletin warns about the probability of internal attacks on the electoral system
And it was published online by Town propertya group focused on transparency and national security.
The CIAC bulletin explains how the enormous scale of the electoral process could be the source of problems.
“Due to the nature of the US electoral process, many people are involved in administering or carrying out responsibilities that support elections, and all of them have the potential to be an insider threat,” he says.
And it points out warning signs to look out for, such as people accessing systems they don’t need to access, remotely accessing computer networks at unusual times, turning off security cameras and ignoring agency policies on installing software or accessing restricted websites.
“The entire threat landscape is elevated for this election,” said Kevin Klein, director of the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. cabling.
“I think it’s fair to say that insider threats are a bigger concern than in previous elections.”
Authorities began working to put out a fire at an urn in Vancouver, WA, early Monday morning. It was one of two fires set at two ballot boxes in two different states early Monday morning.
With a week until Election Day, the race couldn’t be tighter.
And reports are already emerging about the destruction of mail-in ballots.
Police and the FBI in two states are investigating polling place fires.
In Portland, Oregon, police are investigating after a ballot box in Southeast Portland was set on fire early Monday morning and hundreds of ballots were destroyed.
Meanwhile, flames and smoke were seen coming from an urn in Vancouver, Washington, on Monday morning.
Harris and Trump are locked in an election race that will go down to the wire
The bulletin also warns of the risk of violence or property damage at a time of international wars and two attempts on Donald Trump’s life.
“Selective violence and terrorism associated with ideologically motivated individuals will continue to be a threat during the 2024 election cycle,” it says.
‘There is ongoing dialogue among people on extremist forums and discussion groups that the 2020 election results were inaccurate, including calls to infiltrate the electoral system.
‘Furthermore, extremist groups continue to dispute the results of current victories and losses in the 2024 primaries in several states, increasing the likelihood that the general public will lose confidence in the electoral system.