US election: Bomb threats and printer glitches disrupt voting in key swing states
Several polling stations in Georgia were temporarily closed after receiving bomb threats. Precincts in North Carolina also had to close due to computer problems.
Voting was disrupted by bomb threats and technical problems in two US swing states on election day, according to local officials.
Ten polling stations in Georgia‘s Fulton County were sent “non-credible” bomb threats, which resulted in two being closed and evacuated for 30 minutes on Tuesday morning.
Bomb sweeps were also carried out by police at four polling stations in DeKalb County, Georgia, with voting briefly suspended before staff were given the all-clear to return.
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Georgia’s secretary of state Brad Raffensperger said most of the threats appeared to have been sent from Russia.
“They’re up to mischief, it seems. They don’t want us to have a smooth, fair and accurate election, and if they can get us to fight among ourselves, they can count that as a victory,” he said.
The Russian embassy in Washington denied any claims of interference, describing such allegations as “malicious slander”.
“We would like to emphasise that Russia has not interfered and does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, including the United States,” it said. “As President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stressed, we respect the will of the American people.”
The FBI confirmed all the threats were deemed “non-credible”.
Meanwhile in North Carolina, two counties suffered technical problems, according to the state’s board of elections.
Gardners School precinct in Wilson County reported a printer issue that saw voting suspended between roughly 6.30am and 8am, local media said.
A computer issue was also reported at Burke County Pilot Mountain voting precinct.
Both states originally sought permission to extend polling hours beyond their original deadlines – but Sky’s partner network NBC News later confirmed both states would close on time – by 7.30pm EST (12.30am UK).
Voters were still allowed to cast their votes for a short period after that – but the polls were declared officially closed statewide.
More security threats in other battleground states
Bomb hoaxes were also reported in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Arizona – which like Georgia and North Carolina are among the seven key battlegrounds of the election.
Ann Jacobs, head of the Wisconsin Election Commission confirmed two polling stations in the state capital of Madison were sent bomb threats – but neither stopped people casting their votes.
She did not know of any Russian involvement.
Adrian Fontes, Arizona’s Democratic secretary of state, said four fake bomb threats had been delivered to polling stations in Navajo County, but they had not disrupted polling.
Officials had feared disruption in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene caused devastation there last month – but authorities reported “minimal problems” aside from the minor technical glitches, with temporary precincts set up in tents in the worst-affected areas.
