On Election Day, November 5th, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger confirmed that bomb threats and misinformation campaigns, allegedly from Russian sources, disrupted several polling locations in Georgia.
The threats, deemed non-credible but treated with caution, highlight concerns about foreign interference in U.S. elections, especially in battleground states. Officials stress that these actions aim to destabilize the electoral process and sow discord, a familiar tactic seen in past U.S. election cycles.
False Bomb Threats and Evacuations
The incident unfolded as two polling locations in Fulton County were briefly evacuated following bomb threats. The Etris-Darnell Community Center and C.H. Gullatt Elementary School were evacuated for approximately 30 minutes before resuming operations. Three additional polling sites were also threatened, although they were not evacuated. Fulton County Director of Registration and Elections Nadine Williams noted that these locations are seeking court approval to extend their hours beyond the usual 7 p.m. closing time to ensure voters are not deterred by the disruptions.
According to Raffensperger, the bomb threats appear to be part of a broader effort by Russian operatives to interfere with the election. He characterized these attempts as “mischief” and warned that the goal is to undermine the fairness and accuracy of the election process.
Misinformation Campaigns Spread Disinformation
In addition to the bomb threats, misinformation aimed at Georgia voters has circulated online, including a video that falsely suggests a Haitian immigrant voted multiple times. This video has been identified as “targeted disinformation” by Raffensperger’s office and federal authorities, who link its production to Russian “troll farms.” Officials warn voters to stay vigilant against such misleading content, which seeks to stoke distrust in the electoral process.
The FBI and other intelligence agencies have issued warnings about additional fake content circulating online. This includes a fabricated news clip advising Americans to “vote remotely” due to an alleged terror threat, as well as a fake FBI press release accusing prisons in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Arizona of colluding to influence the vote. Authorities emphasize that these posts are intended to manipulate public opinion and reduce voter confidence in the system.
Denial-of-Service Attack Against State’s Website
Russian interference also extended to cyber attacks, with a denial-of-service (DDoS) attack targeting Georgia’s Secretary of State website on October 14th. In response, the office implemented security measures to counter the attack, including a verification process to confirm that visitors to the site were legitimate. This added layer of protection curtailed the impact of the attack, though Raffensperger stressed the persistence of foreign efforts to disrupt the voting process.
Smooth Voting Despite Challenges
Despite these obstacles, Georgia election officials report that voting is proceeding smoothly overall. Average wait times at polling places are reported to be around two minutes, and check-in times average 49 seconds, according to Gabriel Sterling of Raffensperger’s office. More than one million Georgians are expected to cast their ballots on Election Day following a record-breaking early voting period in which over four million ballots were submitted.
Raffensperger assured the public that the majority of votes are expected to be counted by the end of the night, underscoring the commitment to transparency and efficiency in Georgia’s election process.
Authorities Urge Public Vigilance Against Foreign Interference
As officials contend with both physical and digital interference, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, alongside attorneys general from across the U.S., released a statement condemning any acts of political violence and calling for a peaceful response to election results. “Regardless of the outcome of Tuesday’s election, we expect that Americans will respond peacefully and we condemn any acts of violence related to the results,” Carr’s statement read, emphasizing the importance of the peaceful transfer of power as a testament to the rule of law.
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