Preparing For The 2020 Election
Preparing For The 2020 Election
Preparing For The 2020 Election
A framework for public safety agencies to advance planning for the election and post election period.
Additional information and links to detailed resources follow.
Pre-Election
1. Publicly communicate expectations around safe in-person voting in the community
Some states have started early in-person voting with others starting soon. Irrespective of our personal political beliefs or preferred candidate, law
enforcement is prepared to support and ensure that all persons can vote safely. Communicating the department's commitment to this, including
through social media posts and outreach to the community, is an important step in building trust and setting expectations.
3. Publicly express commitment to the safety of all peaceful demonstrators exercising their 1st Amendment rights
Recognizing the individual right to free speech, including the right to peaceful protest and demonstration, can help dispel fears and avert conflict
with groups who are exercising their constitutional rights. State laws vary regarding what is required from groups wishing to protest and
demonstrate. All states have laws prohibiting unsanctioned militia. Understand these laws and communicate them to your officers in advance of
Election Day. Armed actors, including militia, congregating at polling places on or before election day may intimidate voters and interfere with a
free and democratic election process. (Suggested resources: (1) Protests & Public Safety: A Guide for Cities & Citizens – Institute for Constitutional
Advocacy and Protection, Georgetown Law (2) Addressing the Rise of Unlawful Private Paramilitaries State Fact Sheets – Institute for
Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (3) Ballot Security and Voter Suppression: What It Is and What the Law Says – Brennan Center for Justice)
4. Provide guidance on the law to election workers, observers, advocates, and candidates
Promoting understanding among election workers, poll watchers, advocates on all sides, and local candidates on the laws governing what is
permissible with respect to voting, polling places, and public gatherings will help to ensure that the groups most likely to observe or be impacted
by any illegal activity understand the rules. (Suggested resource: State Laws on Authorized Poll Watchers & Voter Challenges - National
Association of Secretaries of State)
Community
5. Coordinate with those who can help diffuse tensions on the street
Outreach Whether through convenings or through individual contacts, coordinating with community leaders, candidates, and others who can help defuse tension
(continued) is an important component in preventing conflict escalation. Law enforcement and public safety officials should reiterate their commitment to and
support of 1st Amendment rights and safe voting. The group should discuss expectations with stakeholders and review de-escalation plans as
necessary. This may also be a good time to identify and recruit individuals to serve as trusted community observers. (See Safety recs. below)
1. Understand local election laws and the interaction between election officials and police
Make sure that both election officials and public safety personnel know their roles in accordance with local or state ordinances. Understand local
election laws and the interaction of election officials and police. Educate staff on what constitutes voter intimidation and how to respond in the event
Safety that this occurs. Coordinate with state and local government partners to ensure that you are on the same page. (Suggested resource: Ballot Security and
Voter Suppression: What It Is and What the Law Says – Brennan Center for Justice (Voter Intimidation – pages 7 and 8, Voter Misinformation or
Deceptive Practices – pages 9 and 10)
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Pre-Election
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Pre-Election
7. Review state law and prepare for collaboration with partners including the National Guard and Emergency Management
Social media can be used by public safety agencies throughout the election period to provide accurate and timely information to the public and the
news media. In a crisis, social media may be the best way to get information into the hands of those who need it most. For example, following the
Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, police used Twitter to relay information to the public including information about road closures and
Safety investigations. Social media posts during this period should integrate norming information, including posts affirming support for safe in-person
voting and peaceful exercise of 1st Amendment rights as well as posts that address and correct disinformation narratives. (Suggested resource:
Social Media Guidebook for Law Enforcement Agencies Strategies for Effective Community Engagement – Urban Institute and Social Media and
Police Leadership: Lessons from Boston)
2. Create a crisis communications plan and share with security and community partners (internal)
Effective communication with the public and news media is a crucial service during a crisis. Establishing and formalizing a plan for how
communication will be relayed, what information will be shared, and by whom, where information will be shared and all other relevant logistics
reduces the already heavy load and strain that can be placed on public safety agencies during emergencies. The PIO and their team should work
with other participating agencies to craft a message that reflects a shared understanding of the situation. (Suggested resources: (1) Volusia County
(FL) Crisis Communications Plan; (2) Strategic Communication Practices: A Toolkit for Police Executives – U.S. Department of Justice, Officer of
Community Oriented Policing, Crisis Communications – Planning and Execution – Page 87 to 105)
Communications
3. Prepare plan for Election Day social media posts to share accurate and timely information (external)
Social media can be used by public safety agencies throughout the election period to provide accurate and timely information to the public and the
news media. In a crisis, social media may be the best way to get information into the hands of those who need it most. For example, following the
Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, police used Twitter to relay information to the public about road closures and investigations. Social media
posts during this period should integrate norming information, including posts affirming support for safe in-person voting and peaceful exercise of
1st Amendment rights as well as posts that address and correct disinformation narratives. (Suggested resource: Social Media Guidebook for Law
Enforcement Agencies Strategies for Effective Community Engagement – Urban Institute and Social Media and Police Leadership: Lessons from
Boston)
4. Assemble a team for monitoring social media information and devise a verification plan (internal)
If staffing levels permit, assemble a team to monitor social media networks, paying closer attention to local networks and sites to identify disinformation,
and misinformation. Develop a plan to verify or refute information among the team and work with the PIO to develop a strategy for drafting, vetting, and
dissemination. (Suggested resource: The 101 of Disinformation Detection – Institute for Strategic Dialogue)
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Pre-Election
5. Educate staff and partners on disinformation campaigns (internal)
Misinformation is information that is false but is not created to cause harm. Disinformation, however, is false and deliberately created with the
intent to dismiss, distract, or distort. In the pre-election period there has been a lot of disinformation. Educating staff and partners on what
constitutes disinformation, the reasons why it is shared, and how to recognize it, is a valuable component in developing effective communication
Communications with the community. (Suggested resources: (1) Developing a Civil Society Response to Online Manipulation, Institute for Strategic Dialogue; (2)
(continued) SpotTheTroll.org – Clemson University Media Forensics Hub)
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Election Day
1. Publicly communicate expectations around supporting safe in-person voting for all eligible voters in the community
Reiterating this message on Election Day itself is important to assuage public fear and anxiety about a tense election season.
Norming 2. Publicly express commitment to the safety of all peaceful demonstrators exercising their 1st Amendment rights
Similar to allaying concerns about in-person voting, repeating the message that peacefully exercising 1st Amendment rights is supported and will
be protected is important to reducing demonstrators’ fears and inflaming any conflict, real or perceived.
1. Be prepared to receive communication from election officials, poll workers, poll watchers, and community members
On Election Day and throughout in-person voting, departments should be prepared to receive and respond to communication from poll workers,
poll watchers, and community groups. Rapid and proportional response along with the expressed commitment to safe voting and exercising 1st
Amendment rights will assure election officials and others that law enforcement is prepared for any scenario, furthering community trust.
(Suggested resource: Protests & Public Safety: A Guide for Cities & Citizens – Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, Georgetown
Law, Building relationships – page 102)
2. Coordinate and strategize with stakeholders to keep different groups separate from each other
Community A strategy sometimes employed by bad actors, including those sowing disinformation, is to bring opposing groups into close contact with each
Outreach other, hoping to inflame tensions and create physical conflict. As much as possible, law enforcement should appropriately and peacefully
coordinate with groups to create physical distance and proactively reduce opportunity for conflict. (Suggested resource: The Police Response to
Mass Demonstrations: Promising practices and lessons learned – Police Executive Research Forum, Competing protest groups – page 15).
1. Establish a Unified Command Center and operations room with community stakeholders
Follow through on the plan to set up a Unified Command Center, preferably in an established EOC and using best practices to ensure interoperable
Safety technology and incident management doctrine. (Suggested resources: (1) National Incident Management System – Federal Emergency
Management Agency, ICS and Unified Command - pages 24 to 40; (2) The Police Response to Mass Demonstrations: Promising practices and
lessons learned – Police Executive Research Forum, The Incident Command System – pages 49 to 54).
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Election Day
2. Execute communications plan to monitor social media and inform the community (external)
Communications Follow communications plan to update and respond to any emerging challenges. If needed, implement crisis communication plans.
3. Use the plan to monitor sites, and dispel misinformation (internal & external)
Utilize the plan developed in the pre-election period to monitor communications and quickly respond to incorrect information that is being shared
by social and traditional news media. The PIO and their team should monitor the media, social media, and other sources of public information,
transmitting information to the components that need it within the incident command organizational structure.
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Election Day
4. Support mayors with communication to the community about the role of the National Guard with state
activation to local streets (external)
Connect with local government leaders to inform them of coordination and collaboration with National Guard forces in the event of state
activation. (See website: civiliansinconflict.org)
Communications
(continued) 5. Follow PIO format and work with social media team to ensure consistent messaging (internal)
To promote accurate and reliable information sharing, communications should be routed through the PIO. The PIO and their team are responsible
for gathering, verifying, coordinating, and disseminating messages to the public, social media, news media, and other agencies. Depending on the
size of the operation, the PIO may work with a social media team to draft and publish messages that address misinformation in a consistent and
timely fashion.
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Post-Election Period
1. Publicly express commitment to the safety of all peaceful demonstrators exercising their 1st Amendment rights
Norming With the possibility that the results of the presidential election may not be determined for days or weeks following Election Day, public safety
leaders should be prepared to reiterate their support for 1st Amendment rights.
1. Actively maintain communication with the community to intervene and de-escalate emerging crises
With the possibility that the election results may not be finalized for several days or even weeks after the election, public safety leaders should be
prepared to maintain communication with community leaders, stakeholders, and leaders of demonstration groups.
Community 2. Engage with Police/Protester Liaison Officer
Outreach Developing a regular reporting schedule and structure for the Police/Protestor Liaison throughout the post-election period will ensure that
community input and information is quickly and accurately acted upon. (Suggested resource: The use of Police Liaison Teams in the policing of
events – College of Policing, page 20)
2. Maintain Unified Command Center and operations room with community stakeholders
Safety In the event of conflict, utilize the structures and processes put into place to manage the situation, including the Unified Command Center.
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Post-Election Period