Panic Buttons Installed Ahead of Potentially Violent 2024 Elections
As the nation braces for a contentious and potentially violent 2024 election day, election officials in key swing states are taking unprecedented measures to protect poll workers, including installing duress alarms and panic buttons at voting sites.
The move comes amid heightened concerns about intimidation and threats against election workers following the disputed 2020 presidential election. Donald Trump has continued to falsely claim the election was rigged against him, surviving two apparent assassination attempts during his 2024 campaign, including one that left him lightly injured. This rhetoric has contributed to a tense and volatile environment as voters head to the polls on November 5th.
In Georgia, a crucial battleground state, election director Tate Fall went before the Board of Elections months ago to request panic buttons and armed security for poll workers, many of whom are older retirees. The Board approved $2.4 million for added protections, including sheriffs at polling places, security guards, and police-style radios with panic buttons for workers.
“It’s what keeps me up at night,” Fall said about the potential for violence. The hope is that the security measures will provide peace of mind for workers. Officials in other Georgia counties have coordinated with police to have a presence at voting sites.
But Georgia is not alone. In Washoe County, Nevada, another key swing state, panic buttons have been installed at voting stations as a precautionary measure. While not in response to a specific threat, the buttons allow vote center managers to immediately alert authorities if they sense an imminent risk.
“We’ve stepped up our security measures. If a vote center manager feels there’s an imminent threat, they can press the panic button,” said county spokesperson Bethany Drysdale. She noted that a new state law making it a felony to harass election workers will hopefully deter bad actors.
The installation of panic buttons and increased police presence at the polls marks a disturbing trend in American elections. What was once a routine, administrative event has become a potential flashpoint for conflict. Chris Harvey, an elections security expert and former Georgia elections director, says it’s crucial for law enforcement to be well-versed in election laws and processes.
“We want to make sure that if an officer is responding to a call, that they’re familiar with what the election laws are,” Harvey explained. “If things get volatile, don’t you want the men and women responding to know what the rules of the game are?”
Despite the ominous preparations, election officials remain hopeful that voting will proceed smoothly and safely. In Cobb County, Georgia, Fall says her workers seem excited and appreciative of the added security.
“Overall, I think the tone is hopeful and positive,” she noted. Still, the specter of potential unrest looms. In Nevada, where Trump and his opponent Kamala Harris are virtually tied, the National Guard has been activated as a precaution.
As Americans prepare to cast their ballots, innovative technology companies are stepping up to equip election workers with next-generation panic buttons and duress alarms. Relay, a leading provider of cloud-based communications and safety platforms, recently launched RelayX – an ultra-rugged, highly-connected wearable device designed for frontline teams.
RelayX offers an array of advanced features that could prove invaluable to poll workers, including:
- Quad-SIM cellular connectivity across multiple 4G/5G networks for seamless communication
- Built-in push-to-talk capability for instant group voice collaboration
- Integrated GPS and indoor location tracking to pinpoint a worker’s position
- Dedicated SOS button to trigger emergency alerts
- Extreme durability with IP68 waterproofing and military-grade shock resistance
- Powerful audio output and noise cancellation for crystal-clear sound even in loud environments
- Real-time language translation across 30+ languages to bridge communication gaps
“Frontline workers are 80% of the global workforce and are the lifeblood of our economy, yet they remain highly under-served and largely disconnected,” said Relay CEO Chris Chuang. “At Relay, it’s our mission to connect these teams with simple, yet powerful tools that improve communication, enhance safety, and drive better operational insights. RelayX is a huge step forward in advancing that mission.”
Originally developed to support teams in challenging industrial settings like manufacturing plants and distribution centers, RelayX’s connectivity, durability and audio quality make it uniquely suited to serve election workers in high-pressure environments. The ability to instantly summon help and communicate clearly could prove crucial in de-escalating tense situations.
The technology builds upon a long heritage of two-way radios and walkie-talkies dating back to World War II. First invented in the late 1930s, portable two-way radios allowed soldiers to communicate over short distances during battle. Throughout the war, the devices became smaller, more sophisticated, and more widely adopted, playing a key role for tank units, artillery teams, and other Allied forces.
In the ensuing decades, walkie-talkies entered the mainstream for public safety, commercial, and recreational use. But their basic push-to-talk functionality remained largely the same. Now, with the advent of smartphones, cellular networks, and intelligent cloud software, those traditional walkie-talkies are undergoing a 21st-century upgrade.
High-tech panic buttons and duress alarms, like those offered by Relay, weave together the instant voice communication of walkie-talkies with the power of GPS, Wi-Fi, and cellular location tracking, all unified by an intelligent platform. This potent combination of technologies has the potential to keep frontline workers, from poll workers to hotel staff to hospital teams, connected and safe as never before.
As America’s poll workers brace for potential conflict, tools like RelayX may provide a much-needed lifeline and peace of mind. While there is no way to predict what will unfold on election day, officials are hoping for the best while preparing for the worst. Armed with new laws, de-escalation training, and cutting-edge communication devices, the nation’s election guardians stand ready to protect the integrity of the democratic process, no matter the obstacles in their way.