The final votes in the presidential election have yet to be cast, but there is already concern among state election officials that a close outcome could fuel chaos during routine post-campaign events.

In the weeks following Election Day, results are certified by state officials, recounts may occur, and voters meet in each state to officially cast their Electoral College votes. These votes will later be sent to Washington, DC, where lawmakers are scheduled to formally count these results during a joint session of Congress on January 6, 2025.

These meetings in states established by federal law and established by state laws, statutes or constitutions will take place on December 17th. The violence of January 6, 2021 – as well as growing expectations that former President Donald Trump may not accept the election results if he loses to Vice President Kamala Harris – has led federal officials to tighten security in the nation's capital this time for the same reason to increase. In particular, there is concern that the possible submission of alternative electoral lists could lead to unrest before and during these meetings.

Officials in battleground states — whose capitols will in most cases host the December caucuses — are beginning to plan for such contingencies as well, preparing for how those events could be disrupted.

“We’re not going into this naively,” North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, a Democrat, said in an interview.

“I don't think anyone needs to go through this election naively, having seen January 6th, having watched what happened, and now listening to the news reports of people trying to disrupt the actual vote,” she added. “I don’t think anyone needs to be really naive about the possibilities – because sometimes desperate people do desperate things.”

In interviews, officials in the most hotly contested states said that when it came to the safety of their constituents' gathering, they largely expected the worst but hoped for the best. There were no public reports of explicit threats against these meetings, and officials declined to discuss whether they had received any.

Because of the sensitivity of the matter and the fluidity of their plans, officials were largely reluctant to reveal specific details. But many said they have already begun putting together safety protocols with the help of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. In doing so, in some cases they also referred to legal wording and viewed the location of the meeting as evidence that it could be changed without breaking any laws or statutes.

Some officials pointed to Colorado as a good example of planning for possible chaos around the caucuses. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat, successfully pushed for a change in state law so that the location of the electorate meeting could be changed if the governor deemed it “not feasible” to meet at the Capitol.

But since that's not possible by law in the seven core presidential election states, here's what officials in those states are planning for potentially chaotic meetings of their voters.

Arizona

In Arizona, as is explicitly required in most states, voters must do so Meet on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December (December 17 of this year) to vote for president and vice president, but state law does not specifically require the meeting to take place in the state Capitol.

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said officials are in the process of making plans that would ensure the meeting takes place “at a location where voters have the facilities they need to do their jobs properly.” complete”.

“We have all developed plans to accomplish these tasks,” Fontes, a Democrat, said in an interview.

Fontes said his office and other officials have been in regular contact with law enforcement officials at various levels but have not had the freedom to discuss security protocols.

“We will undertake whatever legal activities are necessary to allow voters to adequately represent Arizona as we see fit at this time, taking into account the circumstances that best meet their needs,” he said.

“It's like we always said in the Marine Corps: Semper Gumby – we're always flexible. We understand that certain circumstances may require deviations from legal requirements, particularly if there is a possibility that there are safety issues,” he said.

Georgia

In Georgia, state law dictates that voters “shall” meet at the Capitol, and election officials there are making sure that’s the case.

“No alternative venue is being considered,” Mike Hassinger, a spokesman for Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, said in an email.

Hassinger said officials had not yet requested additional security for the meeting and would do so “only if necessary,” adding that existing security around the complex was “always pretty tight.”

He cited the presence of Capitol Police, Georgia State Patrol officers, an existing security fence and other measures, including issuing a security badge to employees inside the complex with a button that alerts Capitol Police and calls them to their exact location in the event of an emergency.

Michigan

In Michigan, state law requires voters to meet in the Senate chamber at the state Capitol on December 17 this year. State officials said there was no room to change that.

“I don’t think there’s room to change that,” Angela Benander, spokeswoman for Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, said in an interview. Benander said Benson's office is working closely with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's office and the Michigan State Police, both of which will play a prominent role in any final decisions on security.

Responding to questions about possible contingencies surrounding the caucus, Stacey LaRouche, a spokeswoman for Whitmer, said in a statement that Whitmer “is committed to protecting Michiganders' right to vote and ensuring that every ballot is cast and counted” and that ” like…” “We have done it in every previous election, Michigan will follow state and federal requirements during the certification process and voter gathering.”

Michael Shaw, spokesman for the Michigan State Police, said in an email: “To ensure the safety of our security protocols, we do not publicly discuss security measures in the capitol.”

Nevada

In Nevada, the law is more comprehensive about when, how and where the caucus takes place, and state officials are still finalizing details. Officials are considering both in-person and virtual meetings for the event.

“We are more flexible than some other countries. There is no specific place where our voters must meet. We can do it virtually if we choose,” Cecilia Heston, a spokeswoman for Democratic Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar, said in an interview. She said the plan was “not 100% finalized on site.”

North Carolina

In North Carolina, the State Board of Elections handles all matters related to voting. But it is Marshall's secretary of state who handles all voter-related matters.

Under state law, voters meet in the State House Chamber of the State Capitol on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December (Dec. 17).

“This is enshrined in law in the House of Representatives. I can't change it. There is no backup power that I would need to change,” Marshall said, adding, however, that her office was already coordinating with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and had even given those officers multiple tours of the state Capitol complex “to ensure their Command controls know what the situation of the country is.”

“A time of disaster is not the time to meet your partner for the first time,” she said.

“Four years ago, when people wanted voters to act differently, there was a little bit of fear — so we actually warmed up,” she said, referring to 2020. Her office, she said, was “very We handled ours carefully with our partners early on and worked out plans.”

She said her staff had been preparing for “all eventualities” for “some time” – and had put in place a number of “other plans” in case of multiple crises.

Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, state law requires voters to meet at noon on December 17 “at the seat of government of this Commonwealth” – the Capitol

State officials did not comment specifically on what contingency plans would be considered in the event of security issues related to the event.

“The State Department and the Shapiro administration will take all necessary steps to ensure the security of the Electoral College,” Amy Gulli, a spokeswoman for Pennsylvania’s Republican Secretary of State Al Schmidt, said in an email.

“The Pennsylvania Department of State takes the safety of our poll workers and the public very seriously, which remains a top priority for the Shapiro Administration. “The ministry is confident that voters will be able to carry out their duties safely and in accordance with all legal requirements,” she added.

Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, state law requires voters to meet at the state Capitol at noon (December 16) on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December – although in practice lawmakers follow federal law, which requires that they meet on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December (December 17th).

Wisconsin Elections Commission spokespeople Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski and Gov. Tony Evers (both Democrats) did not respond to questions about what contingency plans were being considered for the event.