A new U.S. intelligence memo warns that insider threats will ‘likely be an issue’ in the November 5 election centers and ‘could derail or jeopardize a fair and transparent election process.’
It comes as some Donald Trump supporters are already flagging potential problems with the voting process, reviving fears of legal challenges and violence if the former president loses.
And Trump allies have sought to install election deniers throughout the electoral system.
The new bulletin cites the Department of Homeland Security’s definition of an insider threat as someone who ‘will use his or her authorized access, wittingly or unwittingly, to do harm to an entity.’
It was produced by the Colorado Information Analysis Center (CIAC), which compiles intelligence from a string of agencies into threat reports for law enforcement partners.
And it was posted online by Property of the People, a group focused on transparency and national security.
The CIAC bulletin spells out how the vast scale of the electoral process could be the source of problems.
‘Due to the nature of the United States elections process, many people are involved in administering or carrying out responsibilities that support elections, all of whom have a potential to be an insider threat,’ it says.
And it flags warning signs to look for, such as individuals accessing systems that they have no need to access, remotely accessing computer networks at odd times, turning off security cameras and ignoring agency policies on installing software or accessing restricted websites.
‘The entire threat picture is elevated for this election,’ Kevin Klein, Colorado’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergencies Management director told Wired.
‘I think it’s fair to say that insider threats are a greater concern than in previous elections.’
With a week until Election Day the race could not be tighter.
And reports of mail-in ballots being destroyed are already surfacing.
Police and the FBI in two states are investigating fires at ballot boxes.
In Portland, Oregon, police are investigating after a ballot box in Southeast Portland was lit on fire early Monday morning and hundreds of votes were destroyed.
Meanwhile, flames and smoke were spotted early Monday morning coming out of a ballot box in Vancouver, Washington.
The bulletin also warns of the risk of violence or property damage at a time of international wars and two attempts on Donald Trump’s life.
‘Targeted violence and terrorism associated with ideologically motivated individuals will continue to be a threat through the 2024 election cycle,’ it says.
