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Law enforcement prepares for potential Election Day needs
Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas tells FOX6 News they are working with federal, state and local partners to ensure voters and election workers are safe.
MILWAUKEE - Law enforcement agencies across the nation are preparing for what could come on Election Day -- including potential unrest and voting disruptions.
Milwaukee County is no exception. Sheriff Lucas said they are working with federal, state and local partners to ensure voters and election workers are safe.
"We are committed and dedicated to ensuring that everyone who chooses to vote will have that right free and unfettered," said Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas.
On Election Day and beyond, poll workers will be working around the clock until all absentee ballots are counted. In Milwaukee County, more than 250,000 have already been cast.
"There’s certainly discussion, talk that this election could go late into the night, and early into the next day, and even beyond," said Lucas. "We want to ensure that people are not in any kind of way intimidated, that people are not harassed."
Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas
Sheriff Lucas says voters should not expect to see deputies at their polling places but should know that they will be standing by.
"We will have our people stationed throughout the county," Sheriff Lucas said. "As those poll workers are working into the late hours at night, know that law enforcement, too, will be on the job."
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is not expecting unrest but said he is preparing for that possibility.
"We aren’t planning for any rioting," Barrett said. "We're going to do everything we can, both on Election Day and subsequent to Election Day to make sure that we have a peaceful city."
A Milwaukee Police Department spokesperson told FOX6 News:
"The Milwaukee Police Department remains committed to preparing for a safe, secure and successful Election Day. For safety purposes, MPD will not discuss Election Day operational plans."
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Law enforcement agencies are also working with the Wisconsin Elections Commission, which has its own security preparation and incident prevention plan.
That plan is not only for physical security at the polls, but also cybersecurity.
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