US Election Day disrupted by hoax bomb threats alleged to be of Russian origin
Desks are unoccupied at Fulton County Operations Hub and Elections Centre the day before the US presidential election, in Atlanta, Georgia US, November 4, 2024. Photo REUTERS
Election Day in the U.S. on November 5, 2024, faced a series of disruptions, including alleged bomb threats originating from Russian email domains, causing delays in several battleground states.
These threats, deemed non-credible by authorities, impacted polling places in Michigan, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Arizona, leading to temporary evacuations and extended voting hours. Despite these incidents, voter turnout was high, with states like Michigan and Georgia seeing record numbers.
The FBI reported that many of the threats appeared to have originated from allegedly Russian email domains, though they were all deemed non-credible.
In Pennsylvania, courts allowed up to an hour of extra voting time after bomb threats temporarily halted ballots. Similarly, polling stations in Georgia’s Fulton County were briefly evacuated due to threats, while bomb sweeps were carried out in DeKalb County.
Arizona also saw voting delays, with bomb hoaxes reported at multiple polling stations, but these did not cause major disruptions. In Wisconsin, bomb threats at two polling locations in Madison were also not found to be credible.
Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, linked the threats to Russia, stating that they aimed to disrupt the electoral process.
However, the Russian embassy denied any interference, calling the claims "malicious slander."
Officials, including Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, emphasized the resilience of the election system, noting that most disruptions were "routine and planned-for" events.
While bomb threats caused some delays and prompted additional security measures, voting proceeded smoothly for most Americans. Local authorities, including in Pennsylvania, assured that all eligible votes would be counted, and the integrity of the election was secure.
Some polling locations experienced technical issues, such as ballot scanning malfunctions or long wait times due to faulty machines, but these were generally resolved without major incidents.
Federal and state election officials continued to reassure the public, urging vigilance against misinformation and foreign interference.
Election results are expected to be available in the coming days, with ballot counting in key states like Arizona delayed due to the complexity of mail-in and absentee ballots.