On November 5, 2024, as the U.S. held its general election, the FBI reported that fake bomb threats targeting polling places in key battleground states, including Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin, were linked to Russian actors. These threats, originating from Russian email domains, were deemed not credible but caused significant disruptions. In Georgia, two polling locations were temporarily evacuated, resulting in a 30-minute delay, while Wisconsin reported threats at two locations in Madison without major interruptions [89f594b3].
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger expressed concerns that these actions were intended to disrupt a smooth election process, echoing previous warnings about Russian interference in U.S. elections. The FBI's involvement underscores the seriousness of the situation, as they established a national election command post to monitor threats and ensure voter safety [89f594b3].
In addition to the threats in Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin, bomb threats were also reported in Arizona and Pennsylvania, with authorities suspecting Russian involvement in these incidents as well. The FBI confirmed that a total of 60 bomb threats were reported in Georgia alone, leading to the evacuation of multiple voting sites in Atlanta [64158b87].
As the election featured a closely contested race between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump, the heightened security measures included equipping poll workers with panic buttons and placing National Guard personnel on standby. Law enforcement agencies remained vigilant, working to secure polling places and maintain public confidence in the electoral system [64158b87].
This incident follows a pattern of misinformation and threats surrounding the electoral process, including a recent fake video that falsely depicted ballot destruction, further complicating the landscape of security challenges faced during the election [5e9ce0d9].