Public Safety Resources for Election Season

This list of eight key priorities will help focus law enforcement agencies’ election safety preparedness efforts, particularly as Election Day approaches.

This compendium of field-tested law enforcement strategies for keeping elections safe collects insights from over 60 federal, state, and local law enforcement leaders across the country. Published by States United along with the National Policing Institute (NPI) and 21st Century Policing Solutions (21CP), this resource provides comprehensive advice about how best to prepare to protect public safety during election season, divided into seven manageable modules. NPI’s website also features brief videos with prominent law enforcement leaders attesting to the importance of such preparation.

Political events in a given jurisdiction—like candidate visits, debates, rallies, etc.—place specific demands on law enforcement agencies. Some of these events, like a candidate visit, may get scheduled with little warning. This resource provides recommendations for how law enforcement agencies can better prepare to manage political events that take place in their jurisdictions.

Law enforcement plays a critical role in ensuring that every eligible voter can exercise their right to vote. In the upcoming election, police leaders and their personnel should know the rules, understand the appropriate responses, and promote safe participation in the democratic process.

This guidance outlines the law and best practice for law enforcement to respond to drivers and multi-vehicle caravans that express support for a candidate or political cause while engaging in conduct that can threaten public safety, violate traffic laws, and/or cross the line into illegal voter intimidation.

States United partnered with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (DOJ COPS) to produce an episode of its ongoing series “What’s New in Blue,” in which law enforcement leaders share lessons learned in the field. This episode features Chief Chris Davis of Wisconsin’s Green Bay Police Department and Sheriff (Ret.) Paul Penzone of Maricopa County, Arizona sharing their approaches to keeping elections safe for all in their respective jurisdictions.

Law enforcement at every level has a vital role to play in keeping election officials and workers safe and ensuring that they feel protected. This resource is an overview of how law enforcement leaders can prepare to do both.

This document aims to provide practical First Amendment guidance for law enforcement leaders.