Addressing the Threat of Political Violence in the 2024 Elections: A Practical Guide for State and Local Governments

Brian Michael Jenkins

This report includes findings from a cross-ideological working group of active and former senior law enforcement officials, national security professionals, and legal scholars assessing the threat posed by political violence, especially around elections. It introduces a “Checklist for Governors and Secretaries of State” that highlights the National Guard's role in state election security, recommending that state TAGs be included as members of a unified state-level crisis response team — alongside state election directors, state police, homeland security advisors, and mayors and police chiefs of major cities. The report also addresses the authorities under which governors may deploy the National Guard in the event of severe disruptions or election-related unrest.