Concerns about the safety of county administrative and election staff has caused the Boone County Clerk’s Office to revise its Election Day procedures.
“The FBI and Kentucky State Police have sent numerous warnings to my office and County Clerk offices throughout the commonwealth about potential threats that could cause harm to the election process, as well as to the physical safety of clerks and their staff,” wrote Boone County Clerk Justin Crigler in a statement on Friday. “There have already been numerous acts that have alarmed clerks throughout Kentucky.”
Crigler’s letter references several instances of dangerous actions taken against election staff throughout Kentucky during this election cycle, such as a bomb threat to the Laurel County Courthouse and the mailing of (what ended being nonhazardous) white powder to the State Board of Elections in September. Crigler also referenced a death threat he received directly during the 2020 election cycle.
“Just in the past few days numerous drop boxes have been bombed and/or set on fire,” Crigler writes. “Members of my staff have expressed concern for their safety, and some feel very uncomfortable and do not want to work on election day.
“With the FBI and State Police issuing serious warnings at least weekly to my office we must take steps to ensure the safety of my employees, poll workers, the Board of Election members, all while maintaining the integrity of the election. I will continue to have the upmost transparency to ensure the integrity of the election, but we must make sure everyone is safe and the election process goes on smoothly. After consulting with the Boone County Attorney and the Boone County Sheriff’s Department a new Election Day in-office protocol needs to be implemented.”
As a result, on Election Day, the Boone County Board of Elections will conduct its business in the fiscal court room of the Boone County Administration Building in Burlington. Members of the public and the media may sit in the fiscal court room to observe.
“Everything we do will be open to the public,” Crigler said.
Once the board recesses its meeting, the members can either go to the clerk’s office behind locked doors or stay close by until the board reconvenes.
“They only people allowed back into the office will be [the] clerk, deputy clerks, the Boone County Sheriff’s Department, the Boone County Board of Elections, Boone County Attorney’s Office, and poll workers,” Crigler said. “If we need to reconvene, the board will meet back in the fiscal court room so that anyone from the public can see the meeting.”
Vote tallies will take place in public at the Motor Vehicle Department of the County Clerk’s Office. Observers can watch the votes get tallied as they come in.
“Every step of the election process will be able to be viewed by the public as always, but I must ensure the safety of the process and the safety of my staff,” Crigler said. “With all the threats throughout the Commonwealth and nation we will continue to be transparent so that the integrity is held all while protecting each vote and citizen.”
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Cross-posted from the NKY Link.
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