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Remaining vigilant: King County on the lookout for voter intimidation

caption: Julie Wise, King County's elections director, poses for a photo Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, at the King County Elections office in Renton, Wash. CREDIT: ELAINE THOMPSON
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Julie Wise, King County's elections director, poses for a photo Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, at the King County Elections office in Renton, Wash. CREDIT: ELAINE THOMPSON
Elaine Thompson

Despite a recent warning from President Biden about a rise in threats toward election workers and voters heading into the midterms, the head of King County elections says she's seen misinformation but no threats of violence, so far.

"We haven't seen any reports from concerned voters about intimidation in this election, but we are asking voters to contact us if they do see anything out there at the drop boxes," said Elections Director Julie Wise.

During a speech this week, President Biden blamed extremist Republicans for intimidating voters and election officials.

We must "speak as a country and say there's no place for voter intimidation or political violence in America," Biden said.

But Wise says her office is also not seeing threats or harassment of election workers.

To prevent the potential for harassment and election disruption, the elections office is working with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to review building security and make sure office workers and volunteers are prepared come election night next Tuesday.

Even though the election prep has run smoothly so far, Wise says it's challenging for election workers to be accused of undermining the very system they're working so hard to uphold.

"It's a heartbreaking time as an election administrator when you're being accused of felonies, throwing away ballots, vote flipping," she said.

Why you can trust KUOW