(NewsNation) — The 2024 election is just one week away, and polling site safety is at the top of voters’ minds.
Cities across the U.S. have been working to beef up security at polling places, which has been driven by a troubling increase in violent threats toward election workers.
Local governments have coordinated with law enforcement to ensure safe voting and implement new security measures at polling locations.
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A visible police presence, installing cameras and training poll workers on how to handle disruptive individuals are just a few steps being taken.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt told NewsNation’s Markie Martin on “Morning in America” Tuesday that his state is doing everything possible to keep polling sites safe this upcoming election.
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Just weeks ago, an Afghani national was arrested in Oklahoma City, suspected of plotting an Election Day terror attack.
Afghan native Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, was arrested in early October and accused of planning to target large groups of people on Nov. 5. He told investigators he and a co-conspirator — whose identity has not been released — planned to die as martyrs.
Tawhedi first arrived in the United States in September 2021. In the weeks leading up to his arrest, the Oklahoma City resident bought AK-47 rifles, liquidated his family’s assets and purchased one-way tickets for his wife and child to travel home to Afghanistan, charging documents revealed.
His younger brother-in-law was also arrested in connection to the potential attack.
Since the arrests, some Senate Republicans have called on the Department of Homeland Security to release more information on the suspects.
Stitt told NewsNation he was grateful that law enforcement caught the plot early, saying he had been briefly back in July and August on the potential of their ill intent for the country.
“They don’t love America. We need to make sure we know who’s coming into our country,” he said, making this situation a border problem and encouraging former President Donald Trump’s policies.
“There are people who don’t like us very much, and we need to find out who they are,” Stitt continued.
Regardless, Stitt said he’s grateful they were able to thwart the attack.
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Oklahoma election day safety measures
Despite the recent election day threat in Oklahoma, Stitt said the state is prepared for voters to go out to the polls safely.
“100% you’re absolutely safe,” he said. “We have all law enforcement, all my troopers, all the state law enforcement, are in all 77 counties.”
Stitt explained that he has law enforcement agents monitoring all the polling locations and working with the election board to ensure voter safety.
“We’ll make sure that all Oklahomans are safe,” Stitt said.
However, Stitt warned that enemies of the U.S. want to cause fear and chaos within the country. Stitt encouraged voters to get out and vote and to not let the fear get to them and prevent them from doing their national duty.
“Let’s not let someone make us afraid to get out of our homes and go vote,” he said.
