Voting was interrupted and polling stations evacuated across the United States on Election Day due to a series of hoax bomb threats intended to create chaos.
The FBI reported multiple bomb threats at polling locations in several states, including key battlegrounds like Georgia, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Michigan, with many threats traced back to Russian email domains.
In Fulton County, Georgia, alone, 32 bomb threats were reported, leading to the temporary closure of two polling stations. DeKalb County officials also announced the closure of five centers for voter and poll worker safety while bomb sweeps were conducted. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger confirmed that the threats were of Russian origin but deemed them non-credible.
In Arizona, four bomb threats were reported at three voting sites, with Secretary of State Adrian Fontes stating that the intention behind the threats seemed to be to “ensue chaos” rather than influence political outcomes.
In Pennsylvania, Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell confirmed that a polling station in the area had been evacuated due to a bomb threat.
In a related incident, a former judge in New York was arrested for threatening to burn down a polling station after being unable to vote. Paul Lamson, a convicted felon, made threats shortly after attempting to cast his ballot in Fowler, New York.
Additionally, a man was arrested in Washington, D.C., after attempting to enter the Capitol Visitor Center with a torch and flare gun, raising security concerns due to the presence of fuel-like substances in his possession.
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