The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election saw harassment and threats directed at local election officials, which was fueled by conspiracy theories (e.g., “Big Lie”) and disinformation. Cast as corrupt actors in a “rigged” system, these officials became targets of online abuse ranging from insults to vivid fantasies of violence to explicit death threats. Our study draws on interviews with 15 election administrators across six Mid-Atlantic states and a dataset of 580 threatening messages. Results offer a rare look into the spectrum of intimidation they faced. This project is part of a broader effort to understand how escalating hostility endangers both public servants and democratic institutions.
*DISCLAIMER: Violent and Explicit Content*
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