The letters were just the latest worrisome disruption for election workers in Seattle and across the country who have been besieged by threats, harassment and intimidation since the 2020 presidential election. Fulton County has been the target of conspiracy theories since the 2020 election, and its election workers have been harassed and threatened over false claims that they were stuffing ballots to aid Democrats. In Pennsylvania, officials estimate 40 of the state’s 67 county election offices have new directors or deputy directors since 2020. In North Carolina, where Republican lawmakers recently moved to gain more control of state and local election boards, roughly a third of 100 county election directors have left since the 2020 election. About 1 in 5 election workers knows someone who left their election job for safety reasons, and about 70% of local election officials said harassment has increased, according to a Brennan Center survey.

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Persons: “ There’s, ”, Julie Wise, we’re, –, Brad Raffensperger, ” Raffensperger, “, Barb Byrum, ” Byrum, Kim Wyman, ” Wyman, Liz Howard, Wise, Ed Komenda, Manuel Valdes, Jeff Amy, Lindsay Whitehurst Organizations: ATLANTA, FBI, U.S . Postal, Service, Authorities, Georgia, Republican, Justice Department, Brennan, Associated Press Locations: King County , Washington, Washington, Seattle, King, Georgia, Nevada , California, Oregon, Atlanta’s Fulton County, Fulton County, Ingham County , Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, North Carolina, Virginia, Tacoma , Washington, Atlanta