Election security updates: More non-credible bomb threats sent to Atlanta area
Election security updates: More non-credible bomb threats sent to Atlanta area
    Posted on 11/06/2024
A Pennsylvania judge granted a petition in Clearfield County to extend voting until 9 p.m. after a bomb threat targeted an administrative building where votes were being counted.

The judge made an oral ruling and a written petition will be filed in the morning, a spokesperson said.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro confirmed there was a series of bomb threats in the state and said his office is collaborating with local, state, and federal law enforcement in response to the threats.

"Thus far, there is no credible threat to the Commonwealth," he said.

-ABC News' Olivia Rubin and Chris Boccia

FBI officials say there have been several instances of the "inauthentic" use of the FBI's name and seal to promote false election-related narratives.

A fabricated written statement, falsely claiming to be from the FBI, warned media and bloggers against publishing information about violence at polling stations -- claiming that active dissemination of information about attacks at polling stations may provoke a spontaneous increase in such incidents.

A fabricated video impersonating the FBI and a U.S. government agency falsely provided a joint statement suggesting schools suspend educational activities through Nov. 11, fraudulently claiming that "the risk of school shooting and riots has increased significantly" because of the election.

And a fabricated video falsely claimed the FBI received "9,000 complaints about malfunctioning voting machines."

"Election integrity is among our highest priorities, and the FBI is working closely with state and local law enforcement partners to respond to election threats," FBI officials said in a statement. "Attempts to deceive the public with false content about FBI threat assessments and activities aim to undermine our democratic process and erode trust in the electoral system."

-ABC News' Luke Barr

The Navajo Nation Department of Justice has filed suit against Apache County, Arizona, requesting an extension of voting hours due to polling place issues.

The suit alleges that some locations in Apache County ran out of emergency ballots, that some voters were turned away due to ballot printer issues, and that some voters were forced to leave due to long lines at the polls.

"Defendants know or reasonably can be expected to know that their conduct of failing to timely conduct elections throughout the entire voting period at a polling site in Apache County has had the effect of severely burdening and in some cases, denying the right to vote for Plaintiff's members," the lawsuit says.

Earlier in the day, officials said the countywide issue was fixed but that it created some "residual issues" including long lines at the polls.

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said he expects there will be a resolution before 7 p.m. MT -- which is when the polls are scheduled to close in Arizona.

-ABC News Laura Romero

Voters in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, were waiting in line for as long as seven hours to cast their ballots at a polling location near Lehigh University, an official confirmed to ABC News.

The official -- Scott Hough, the vice chair of the Northampton County Election Commission -- said the wait was due to a broken voting machine in one precinct.

A judge denied Pennsylvania Democrats' request to keep this polling location open until 10 p.m., but will allow any voters who were in line at 8 p.m. to cast their ballots.

The state's Democratic Party petitioned the judge to grant the extension, arguing the Northampton County Board of Elections "has failed to provide sufficient voting machines and personnel to accommodate" voters.

"Long wait times resulting from inadequate equipment and personnel have caused electors to potentially be unable to vote within the time for opening and closing of polls," the petition stated.

-ABC News' Matt Gutman, Olivia Rubin and Devin Dwyer
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