On Election Day, two polling sites in Union City, Georgia, were temporarily shut down after receiving bomb threats that authorities later attributed to a “foreign state actor” believed to be Russia. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger reported that five non-credible threats were called in to the Etris Community Center and Gullatt Elementary School, causing brief interruptions as voters and poll workers were evacuated and buildings were searched for explosives. Law enforcement found no actual threat, allowing the polls to reopen.
In a press conference, Raffensperger said Russia was responsible for the threats, emphasizing the country’s pattern of interference in U.S. elections, particularly through disinformation and cyber activities. “They’re up to mischief,” Raffensperger said, adding that Russia “doesn’t want us to have a smooth, fair, and accurate election.”
The FBI, which has been closely monitoring threats to polling sites, confirmed that these calls were from Russian email domains. However, officials stressed that there was no credible indication of any active threat to voter safety, adding that election integrity remains among the FBI’s highest priorities.
Union City, a predominantly Black and heavily Democratic area, experienced a delay of about an hour at each affected polling station, leaving approximately 25 voters waiting outside at the Etris Community Center while police secured the premises. Poll watcher Evette Reyes reported that several voters were mid-vote when the evacuation began, while other voters arrived to find law enforcement on-site and were told to wait until the area was cleared. Union City police coordinated with the FBI, Homeland Security, and the Election Protection Coalition to ensure public safety and uninterrupted voting following the threats.
Raffensperger previously accused Russia of a cyberattack on Georgia’s Secretary of State website on October 14 to sow discord and undermine voter confidence. U.S. intelligence officials reported that Russian-backed groups have circulated false information about candidates, including fabricated claims of illegal voting in Georgia to influence the electorate.
As a countermeasure to foreign interference, the U.S. government has increased security in collaboration with local and federal law enforcement. Voters in Fulton County were reassured by the county police that a coordinated law enforcement response is in place for all polling locations, with officers visible at each site to ensure voter safety. Polling hours were later extended in the affected locations to account for delays.
Raffensperger stressed the state’s readiness to quickly respond to and neutralize any further threats. Local and federal agencies continue to monitor the situation, with additional security and cybersecurity measures anticipated as the election cycle progresses.
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