Feds monitoring Southern California elections amid concerns over threats to safety, democracy

Federal authorities have been working with county elections officials and law enforcement in Southern California to prepare for Election Day, a part of broader national efforts to monitor elections amid concerns over threats to public safety and democracy.

For months, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California has been leading preparation efforts, working to prevent threats of violence to poll workers, breaches of elections security and violations of voting laws in the seven counties the federal prosecutor's office oversees: Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Luis Obispo counties. Similar efforts are being carried out across the country under the leadership of the Justice Department.

In Southern California, FBI special agents will be on call across field offices on Election Day, authorities said.  

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said he's heard concerns from the public many times over the last few months, as he's met with state and federal authorities to plan and prepare for Nov. 5. 

"Everyone talks about this election being so contentious, the anxiety going up," Luna said. "I can't tell you how many community meetings I went to where community members were concerned about their safety. So we want to make sure that people feel safe voting — that it's no different here in LA County than it would be anywhere else. Actually, hopefully it's better."

"We have to be concerned. If you look at the rhetoric — the back and forth. We always tell people it's OK to disagree but you can't go fist to cuffs, and you can't act on your desires for violence," Luna said. "We're ready to respond. We're ready to investigate. We're ready to take cases to the District Attorney's Office if anything has to do with elections."

Since 2020, elections workers and voting centers around the country have heightened safety measures due to abuse and harassment being experienced by workers, according to a survey this year by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law. More than a third of elections officials surveyed reported they have been harassed, threatened or abused.

Meanwhile, allegations of election fraud and the security of votes have also become points of concern. On Monday, incendiary devices were set off at ballot drop boxes and destroyed hundreds of votes in two cities, Portland, Oregon and nearby Vancouver, Washington, the Associated Press reported. One official described the it as a "direct attack on democracy."

Political leaders have also been a target. On Tuesday, the man convicted of breaking into the home of House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and bludgeoning her husband with a hammer in 2022 was sentenced to life in prison following his state trial.

Concerns over threats and violence against public officials, poll workers, elections officials and political candidates led to the creation of the Justice Department's Election Threats Task Force in 2021. 

The federal task force handles allegations of violence as well as harassment, such as swatting calls targeting elections workers, in which hoax 911 calls are made to send in a SWAT response. Currently, the task force has 20 cases listed online involving threats to elections workers, political candidates and others, some with defendants already convicted and some cases still ongoing. 

They involve incidents ranging from a San Diego man accused of leaving a voicemail threatening violence against an election official to a Florida man charged with threatening to kill his primary opponent in a congressional race in 2021. Among more violent cases are a former congressional candidate in New Mexico facing charges alleging he masterminded a shooting spree targeting elections officials in 2022 and a Kentucky man who pleaded guilty to shooting at a mayoral candidate the same year.

While announcing the efforts underway in Southern California, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said federal authorities are committed to protecting the function of democracy as well as the safety of those tasked with handling ballots.

"The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy," Estrada said in a statement. "My office will be vigilant in upholding the ability of each citizen to vote freely and fairly – without interference or discrimination. Likewise, election officials and staff must be able to work in safety."

In Southern California, Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas F. Rybarczyk has been appointed District Election Officer, leading the efforts to prevent elections-related crime in the region.

Last week, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a stern warning ahead of the Nov. 5 election.

"As we approach Election Day, the Justice Department's warning remains clear: anyone who illegally threatens an election worker, official, or volunteer will face the consequences," Garland said in a statement, announcing developments in four elections-related cases. "For our democracy to function, Americans who serve the public must be able to do their jobs without fearing for their lives."