US: Threats to election officials, Russian disruption fears, Harris surges ahead of Trump

Election Commission employees involved in the upcoming US general elections have been receiving threats, including those of physical violence.

According to a US media source, which cited documents from the New York police, these threats have prompted law enforcement agencies to allocate "significant resources" to ensure the safety and security of election officials, campaign headquarters, and polling stations for the election set to take place on November 5, Caliber.Az reports.

Since April 2024, the FBI has documented nearly 2,000 threats directed at polling station staff and has initiated at least 100 investigations into these incidents.

This year's presidential race will see former President Donald Trump representing the Republican Party, while Vice President Kamala Harris is the Democratic candidate.

Additionally, US intelligence agencies, including the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, have warned of foreign interference in the elections, specifically naming Russia as the most active threat. In a joint statement, the agencies reported that foreign actors are conducting operations to undermine public trust in the election process and exacerbate divisions within the US. These actions are expected to escalate in the coming weeks.

The statement specifically highlighted Russia’s role, stating that individuals linked to Russia have been producing videos and fake articles to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election and to instil fear among voters.

Meanwhile, a poll conducted by NPR, PBS News, and Marist College shows Kamala Harris leading Trump with 51% of voter support compared to Trump’s 47%. However, despite Harris's slight lead, 49% of respondents believe Trump will ultimately win the election, while 46% expect Harris to emerge victorious.

The survey also highlighted voter concerns, with 72% of respondents fearing potential acts of violence following the election results.

The poll also found that 71% of respondents believe their candidate should accept the election outcome, while 27% think it is acceptable for a candidate to challenge the results.

In terms of key issues, half of the respondents think Trump would handle economic issues better, while 49% believe Harris would perform better in this area. Additionally, 55% of those surveyed believe Trump is making campaign promises he intends to keep, while 44% see his statements as merely campaign rhetoric.

The poll, conducted between October 31 and November 2, included 1,297 participants with a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.

As the election date nears, more than 76 million Americans have already cast their ballots through early voting and mail-in options.

By Tamilla Hasanova