Disruptions in voting in key swing states during US election due to bomb threats and printer glitches | US News

Voting faced challenges in two US swing states on election day, with bomb threats and technical issues causing disruptions, according to local officials.

In Fulton County, Georgia, ten polling stations received “non-credible” bomb threats, leading to the closure and evacuation of two stations for 30 minutes on Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, police conducted bomb sweeps at four polling stations in DeKalb County, Georgia, with voting briefly halted before staff were cleared to resume.

Georgia’s secretary of state Brad Raffensperger mentioned that most of the threats seemed to originate from Russia, suggesting a motive to disrupt the election process. The FBI confirmed that all threats were not deemed credible.

The Russian embassy in Washington denied any allegations of interference, labeling them as “malicious slander”. The embassy emphasized Russia’s non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.

Meanwhile, in North Carolina, technical issues were reported in two counties, causing disruptions at polling locations. Despite initial efforts to extend polling hours, both states ultimately closed on time, with voters allowed to cast their ballots shortly after.

Additionally, there were bomb hoaxes reported in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Arizona, all battleground states in the election. Wisconsin reported bomb threats at two polling stations, while Arizona faced fake bomb threats in Navajo County. Despite these challenges, polling continued without significant disruptions.

Authorities in North Carolina were concerned about potential disruptions following Hurricane Helene. However, aside from minor technical issues, polling proceeded smoothly with temporary precincts set up in affected areas.