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In the United States, elections are administered at the state and local levels of government, which has resulted in a diverse landscape of election systems and technologies across the country. Throughout the election cycle, many people are involved in administering or carrying out responsibilities that support elections, including election workers, officials from other divisions of government, vendors, contractors, temporary workers, and volunteers. Understanding what constitutes insider status and how insiders can present risks to an organization are important components of developing a comprehensive insider threat mitigation program.

An insider threat can be an individual or group who uses their authorized access or special knowledge to cause harm to an organization or entity. This harm can include malicious acts that impact the security and integrity of election systems and information. Insider threats could manifest as current or former employees, temporary workers, volunteers, contractors, or any other individuals with privileged access to election systems and information. This could include individuals who work outside of the immediate election office in roles that support or interact with infrastructure that the election office relies upon.

* ABC Chicago…

At a west suburban Geneva country club in September, “Captain K” took the mic.

“What I do well is I promote the gospel that the 2020 election was stolen,” said former Army Captain Seth Keshel, who goes by Captain K. […]

“If you want to fix elections, you can start right here in Kane County,” Keshel said. “We got plenty of influencers. We don’t have enough middle managers and we definitely don’t have enough infantrymen.”

Keshel declined the I-Team’s request for an interview but said in an email that, “poll watchers are needed to prevent fraudulent practices at polling locations,” and that he has never “suggested the use of violence in dealing with the problems related to our elections.” […]

Even in non-battleground counties and states, the “insider threat” is on the minds of Kane County Clerk John Cunningham and other local election officials.

“We’re worried about Election Day,” Cunningham said. “They tried the last election, they sent a lot of their group, one of the groups, sending a lot of poll watchers. Now they’re trying to become judges. So we got to watch for that.”

* Yesterday in Will County…

He was a pollwatcher for the Will County Republican Party, according to Jack Londrigan, who took the photo.

What I was able to find out about the patches:

- The US Department of Justice classified the Fugarwe Tribe as an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (not to be confused with the Outlaw motorcycle club) in 1991. Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs are organizations whose members use their motorcycle clubs as conduits for criminal enterprises.

- Blackstone: Blackstone, IL is the location of Fugarwe‘s Illinois Chapter.

-F.F.F.F.: Fugarwe forever, Forever Fugarwe.

- You can see the patch that puts the F’s in a swastika/iron cross formation.

* Meanwhile, WAND…

The Illinois State Board of Elections monitors social media for misinformation well before Election Day. There are multiple ways the state can counter false information to ensure voters have a safe and secure election process.

Early voting expanded for suburban Cook County and the city of Chicago last week, but that also led to an increase in misinformation. State leaders saw a post on X, formerly Twitter, noting a suburban polling place was destroying ballots and tricking voters.

“There’s no truth whatsoever to it,” said Illinois State Board of Elections spokesperson Matt Dietrich. “What had happened in this early voting site in Schaumburg was they had a problem with one of the tabulators. These things happen in every election. Those tabulators are very sensitive pieces of equipment.” […]

The Illinois State Board of Elections has a full time employee that works in the State Police Terrorism and Intelligence Center in Springfield. Dietrich told WAND News this employee monitors social media looking for key words pertaining to elections across the state.

“When they see these things, they alert us, we alert our digital media director, and we can counteract those posts with our own posts,” Dietrich said.

* KWQC…

Rock Island County Clerk Karen Kinney said an early voter claimed a machine in her office altered votes and posted the machine’s serial number, which led to others making the same claim.

“We did change up the machine, the one that received the first complaint, just in case there was some validity to the complaint,” Kinney said. […]

The person who posted the claims also said Kinney replied that it “happens from time to time.“

“That the machine jumps — yes — if you use your finger and not the stylus. It happens from time to time that the machine may jump, but somebody cut off what I said,” Kinney said. “I did say that; I admit to that, but I also said, following that comment, I said, ‘you have every chance to correct it.’”

Voters have seven opportunities to check their ballots before submission, she said.

* Shaw Local…

The DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office will deploy teams of assistant state’s attorneys and Investigators to respond to reports of any suspected irregularities that may arise at DuPage County polling locations on Election Day.

Prosecutors and investigators will be available at the state’s attorney’s office and at the polls from 6 a.m. through 7 p.m. Nov. 5 to respond to suspected violations of the Illinois Election Code.

State’s attorney office staff will also maintain communications throughout the day with officials at the DuPage County Clerk’s Office. This coordinated effort will help enforce compliance with the Election Code while ensuring that every voter properly qualified is able to cast their ballot.

“As we have done in every election since I became state’s attorney, my office will again deploy teams of assistant state’s attorneys and Investigators throughout DuPage County to canvass polling places and to respond to suspected violations of the Election Code,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release. “In addition to my staff, local law enforcement officers as well as sheriff’s deputies will blanket polling places throughout our county.

* More…

WAND | Central Illinoisans cast their votes ahead of election day:

* WMBD | Voters are going to the polls in even higher numbers a week out from election day: Some voters in Tazewell County say they went out and voted early to beat the lines. “I wanted to avoid any crowd on Election Day,” said Mark Allen, a Tazewell County resident. “Very easy, two or three minute delay in line, and the process didn’t take much time once I got to the room where you cast your ballot.”

* IPM News | Champaign County Clerk discusses efforts to prevent voter intimidation: Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz said she will pursue charges against those who break election law or threaten the safety of voters and election staff. “We want people to come into the polling place in that 100-feet zone and be able to exercise their right to vote freely and fairly, without restriction and without drama, without issue from other voters,” she added.

posted by Isabel Miller
Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 12:50 pm

Comments

There is nothing worse than these jerks who threaten and intimidate poll workers who largely consist of students and the elderly. What big tough men you are. Sickening.

Comment by low level Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 1:01 pm
So, lets figure out who gave that Nazi poll watching credentials.

Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 1:21 pm
The federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has launched a new one-stop shop website for election threat updates from CISA and its federal government partners. As foreign actors (e.g. Russian) continue their efforts to influence and interfere with the 2024 elections, CISA is ensuring that information about the election threat environment is readily accessible.
the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) launched a new one-stop shop website for election threat updates from CISA and our federal government partners. As foreign actors continue their efforts to influence and interfere with the 2024 elections, CISA is ensuring that information about the election threat environment is readily accessible.

#Protect2024 has quickly grown and serves as the central point for critical resources, training lists and security services to support more than 8,000 election jurisdictions for the 2024 election cycle.

For example, last month there were three reported incidents of an incendiary device being attached to the outside of metal ballot drop boxes in two neighboring states. While current assessments indicate this is a localized threat, these events may spur other actors in other parts of the United States to commit similar criminal actions targeting ballot drop boxes. In response, CISA developed best practices for election officials in states where voting is already underway, and resource intensive adjustments to drop box locations are not feasible. These are intended as immediate-term considerations to specifically address the threat posed by incendiary devices being placed on, in, or near ballot drop boxes.

Comment by Scott Cross for President Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 1:25 pm
Small FYI: Time stamp on the comments is not synched with the time change.

Comment by Southside Markie Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 1:34 pm
===Time stamp on the comments is not synched with the time change===

Every single time. Ugh.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 1:42 pm
Love to hear from the Will County GOP on whose call it was to engage this ****off as a watcher.

Comment by Flyin'Elvis'-Utah Chapter Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 1:56 pm
“Captain K” sounds like a particularly downmarket brand of meth that the Law & Order team has to track down.

Comment by Suburban Mom Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 1:59 pm
Insert something about hating Illinois Nazi’s here.

Comment by VK Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 2:08 pm
There’s a meme that circulates online every now and then that if you’re holding a political rally, someone prominently holds up a Nazi flag or sign, and you don’t immediately kick them out, then you are now in a Nazi rally.

Same thing here. If you employ people wearing blatantly white supremacist gear to do your bidding, your bidding is that of a white supremacist organization.

Comment by TJ Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 2:10 pm
Wearing this symbol is legally restricted in many countries, including Germany!

Comment by Dotnonymous x Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 2:21 pm
Future generations are going to look at this with curiosity as to how we got here with probably a huge level of disgust. I hope not, but I expect voter and poll watcher intimidation will be higher than ever tomorrow. The sick irony is that the accusers are on the side of those who have been found guilty of being the perpetrators. Absolute embarrassing madness.

Comment by levivotedforjudy Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 2:38 pm
It’s only fraud if I lose. And almost half of our country is dumb enough to believe the lies.

Comment by Chicago Voter Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 2:47 pm
A couple things. Years and years back, the voting booths were a bit larger with a curtain so no one could see who the voter voted for. Actual SECRET ballot, as it should be. Then they went to cubicles that are open in back. On one former election, an election official was walking behind the row of voters asking if anyone was having difficulty or needed assistance. This could have been someone innocently trying to help, but he could see who voters were voting for as he walked by. Also, other voters could see as they walked by. Another time, the voting stands were set up in an area with a security camera looking down over the shoulder of voters at some of the stands. I hope that someday they will go back to the booths with privacy curtains and better protect the privacy of the voters.

Comment by Dupage Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 2:51 pm
“ ‘That the machine jumps — yes — if you use your finger and not the stylus. It happens from time to time that the machine may jump, …’ ”

Anyone who uses a touch pad on a laptop is aware of this. Complainer must be another “Luddite for Hand Counting” … .

Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 2:54 pm
==He was a pollwatcher for the Will County Republican Party==

Recruiting quality people I see. Another example of why Republicans in this state continue to be a joke.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 3:06 pm
Tabulator do fail. There are procedures for handling that. You call for a replacement, switch to using the emergency drop box, and at least in Dangamon county have a new tabulator on site in usually 15 minutes or less because they have spares ready to go on delivery trucks. Then after the polls close the ballots that went in the emergency box get fed to the tabulator.

FWIW … in the years I’ve worked as an Election Judge, I’ve only seen one machine failure, so it’s not common.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 3:31 pm
Need I remind everyone of the self proclaimed Nazi that ran against Dan Lapinski just a few short years ago? The next Republican to run for that seat was Mike Fricilone, a far cry from a Nazi, to be sure, but the Republican leader of the Will County Board and seat mate of MAGA general / Homer Township flag flyer Steve Balich. Look no further than Steve for a likely suspect for your appointment authority.

The Will County Republican Party has a problem. The decent ones like Fricilone and Moustis all left and now all that remains are Balich, Ogalla, Berkowicz… MAGA fringe and Nazi appointers.

Comment by NotYourGramma Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 3:55 pm
C’mon guys. We are for diversity and those who identify as literal outlaws and wear swastikas deserve representation as well according to the ILGOP.

Comment by ArchPundit Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 3:55 pm

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