Since the 2020 election, the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force has arrested and prosecuted about a dozen people for threatening election workers. In contrast, experts say actual voter fraud, or instances of people voting improperly, are vanishingly rare.

Local election directors are beefing up security in advance of Election Day to keep workers and polling places safe while also ensuring that ballots and voting procedures aren’t tampered with. Their concern isn’t just theoretical.