Increasingly violent threats and harassment aimed at public officials, from local county clerks to the President, are causing a significant number of these officials to resign, with local election officials particularly impacted. Since the 2020 election, attrition has been a major issue, exacerbated by conspiracy theories and the pandemic. A new report from bipartisan organization Issue One highlights this troubling trend, revealing that around 50 percent of top local election officials in 11 western states have left their positions since November 2020.

This brain drain in election administration is not showing signs of abating. The 2023 survey from Issue One indicates a 10 percentage point increase in departures compared to previous years. The areas most affected are those with close election margins, where scrutiny and pressure are highest. According to the report, 80 percent of counties with tight margins in the 2020 presidential election have seen turnover among chief local election officials.

Concurrently, a report from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue has identified a more than 200 percent rise in violent rhetoric directed at public officials over a recent one-year period. This normalization of violent discourse, especially online, is increasingly seen as a direct threat to the safety of these officials and, by extension, to the democratic processes they support.

Sasha Havlicek, CEO of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, emphasized the serious implications of this trend. "People feel emboldened to speak in certain ways due to the anonymity of online environments, which wouldn't necessarily reflect their real-life behavior," she explained. This has led to real-world consequences, including a failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in July 2024, which subsequently fueled an increase in online threats.

Officials across the political spectrum are affected, with Republicans experiencing a 364 percent surge in threats, significantly higher than the 124 percent increase for Democrats. Despite the increasing dangers, election officials are taking steps to safeguard themselves and their teams. For instance, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has had to increase security measures following doxxing and death threats.

In response to these challenges, some states are taking proactive measures to reinforce their election administration workforce. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes highlighted a fellowship program aimed at introducing new talent into election administration, reflecting a commitment to tackling the issue head-on. "Instead of just being concerned, we're actually doing something about it," Fontes stated.

The turnover among election officials, coupled with the rise in violent threats, continues to be a significant concern for those tasked with safeguarding democratic processes. As these officials increasingly find themselves targets, the very fabric of American democracy could be at risk, underscoring the urgent need for solutions to ensure both their safety and the integrity of the electoral system.