CHICAGO (CBS) — Ahead of Election Day next week, law enforcement and election officials are getting ready out of concerns about unrest or violence.
The actions being taken are all about preparation—stemming from political violence in the past and research showing that many believe political violence is OK.
“Safety is very much on voters’ minds as we head into this election,” said Max Bever, director of public information for the Chicago Board of Elections. “In the city of Chicago, thankfully, we don’t see the same types of threats or issues as many of our friends in other election jurisdictions are. But we still do have to prepare for the worst.”
Bever ensures polling places run smoothly, and poll workers remain safe.
“We don’t train our poll workers to deal with any public safety issue, or any de-escalation techniques,” he said. “We don’t feel that should be the responsibility of a poll worker to feel like they need to put themselves in any possible harm’s way.”