Polling stations in Georgia continue receiving bomb threats as Election Day draws to a close, forcing authorities to shut down the centers even if the claims are not particularly credible.
The latest episode took place in DeKalb County, which is majority Black. Fox 5 Atlanta reported that police was blocking off the Tucker-Reid H. Cofer Library, with people standing across the street.
BREAKING: Tucker-Reid H. Cofer Library on LaVista Road is being evacuated due to a bomb threat. FOX 5 is working to gather more. The latest headlines: MORE: https://t.co/RSADuCdDPI pic.twitter.com/HiBaJ3gOpc
— FOX 5 Atlanta (@FOX5Atlanta) November 5, 2024
Police was performing bomb threats at seven other precincts, illustrating the extent of the threats. "Every asset that we have will be deployed to ensure that every citizen who wants to vote will be given that opportunity and every vote cast will be counted," said DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond.
Officials told the outlet they were seeking additional court orders to extend voting hours at the threatened locations and allow all those there to cast their ballots. "Rest assured that we are working quickly to ensure every voter will have an opportunity to cast their ballot despite these bomb threats," said DeKalb VRE Executive Director Keisha Smith.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger confirmed earlier in the day that some of the threats came from Russia. "We've heard some threats that were of Russian origin. I don't know how to describe that that's viable – we don't think they are, but in the interest of public safety, we always check that out, and we'll just continue to be very responsible when we hear about stuff like that," Raffensperger said. "We identified the source, and it was from Russia."
"They're up to mischief, it seems, and they don't want us to have a smooth, fair and accurate election," Raffensperger added. "Anything that can get us to fight amongst ourselves - they can count that as a victory."
Elsewhere, a poll worker in central Georgia was arrested on Monday for allegedly sending a threatening letter to the elections superintendent following a dispute with a voter.
Nicholas Wimbish, 25, of Milledgeville, was charged for mailing a bomb threat, conveying false information about a bomb, mailing a threatening letter, and making false statements to the FBI, Atlanta News First reported.
The U.S. Department of Justice says Wimbish, who was working at the Jones County Elections Office on Oct. 16, had a "verbal altercation with a voter" that day.
The following day, Wimbish allegedly mailed a letter addressed to the county's elections superintendent, pretending it was from a "Jones County voter." The letter threatened violence against poll workers and concluded with a handwritten note stating, "PS boom toy in early vote place, cigar burning, be safe," according to the Justice Department.
If convicted, Wimbish faces up to 25 years in prison.
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