Josh Zygielbaum, the elected county clerk and recorder in Brighton, Colorado, faces security concerns and threats as the chief Adams County elections official during the 2024 presidential election. He and other election workers across the country are dealing with volatile attacks and threats, including suspicious packages and intimidation.
Since the 2020 election, the Justice Department has arrested and prosecuted a dozen people for threatening election workers, while instances of actual voter fraud are rare. Election workers are taking security measures seriously, such as installing bulletproof glass, conducting de-escalation training, and screening mail with trained dogs.
Experts fear that any mistakes made by election workers could be seized upon by critics to create chaos and cast doubt on the election’s legitimacy. Zygielbaum remains focused on running accurate elections and addressing vulnerabilities, despite some voters being influenced by outside forces to doubt the election’s accuracy.
The goal of bad actors is not just disruption, but to create an environment where the public doubts everything they hear, undermining democracy. Zygielbaum stresses the importance of trust in the system and the need to protect the foundation of the country’s democracy to ensure that the United States can continue to stand.
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