Contra Costa County election staff set, after training for bomb threats, AI scares and other possible disruptions
on November 1, 2026
Mindful of security and safety for both workers and voters, Contra Costa County election officials have planned for a scenario in which an AI-generated fake video frightens voters away from the polls on Election Day.
Kristin Connelly, the county’s clerk-recorder and registrar of voters, said her office has planned for that and other scenarios — just in case.
With Election Day Tuesday, Connelly and local law enforcement are preparing for a range of potential disruptions, from fake bomb threats to menacing drones near election sites. The preparations are meant to keep ballots secure and voting open., and f For Connelly, these cautionary steps are personal.
“My staff has been threatened in the past,” she said.
Connelly said the county has protections in place for drop boxes against fire and tampering, though she would not give specifics for security reasons.
“We have seen none of those issues,” she noted during a tour of the facility last week.
“We have cameras everywhere.”
Beyond the cameras, an alarm system covers the entire building, and card readers limit which employees can enter specific areas, said Travis Ebbert, an elections processing supervisor.
“There’s multiple levels of security that you have to get through to get to ballots here,” he said.
On election night, at least one security guard is on site, and sometimes more, Ebbert said. Contra Costa County sheriff’s deputies patrolled the building on election night for years, but more recently, a private security company has taken over.
Contra Costa County Elections
In-person voting: Polls open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Polling site information here.
Drop boxes: Open until 8 p.m. Election Day. Locations here.
Mail ballots: Must be post-marked by Nov. 3
Report tampering: Contra Costa County Elections Office, 925-335-7800.
Those protections are backed by a lot of advance planning and training. In early September, election officials and law enforcement officers held a half-day exercise to practice for bomb threats, swatting (false emergency reports meant to trigger a police response), drones and disruptive visitors. Representatives from more than two-thirds of local law enforcement jurisdictions attended, including the FBI’s election crimes coordinator, Connelly said.
Participants also rehearsed what to do if a vehicle crashed into a ballot drop box, including how to protect ballots while preserving evidence. The session was led by Tina Barton, a former Michigan elections official.
Based on this training and past experience, officials are ready for almost anything. Unusual incidents have occurred. For example, in 2024, a chicken wing deposited in a drop box at the Danville Park and Ride drew wasps, and a worker was stung while collecting ballots there.
Such incidents are rare, Connelly said. “We rely on the behavior of our voters to do the right thing.”
(Photos of Contra Costa County election workers sorting ballots and of posters on the Elections Office wall, by Makori Onegechi)
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