Election workers faced harassment, violent threats and chaotic protests after the 2020 US election, with Donald Trump refusing to accept his defeat.

With Mr. Trump running again and the election expected to be the closest ever, U.S. authorities are stepping up security measures in case problems arise.

This comes as Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner asked troublemakers to stay away, warning: “We’re not playing. Search and find out.” See our article from 12:07 p.m. to learn more about this.

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat, told our US partner network NBC News: “We have layers of security – we have military and law enforcement joining our team to protect our cyber support systems.”

She added: “People are voting on paper so, of course, it can’t be hacked, but what they’re doing is protecting our support systems.”

Tammy Patrick, program manager at the National Association of Election Officials, told Sky News 40% of workers have already suffered threats or abuse.

Some Colorado county officials have upgraded their locks and cameras, while others have installed bulletproof glass and purchased bulletproof vests, Ms. Griswold added.

A new state law aimed at fending off insider threats also requires election equipment to be under 24/7 surveillance and protected with key card access.

Ms. Griswold and her team are regularly threatened. A person who threatened her was arrested while she was giving birth at the hospital.

“We are definitely on top of things and take our safety very seriously,” she said.

Colorado isn’t the only state with heightened security.

Maricopa County, Arizona

Mr. Trump has fueled conspiracy theories in this battleground state with his claims of voter fraud.

As a result, its tabbing center will have snipers on the roof, metal detectors, security personnel at every entrance, drones overhead, security cameras and floodlights.

There are also two levels of security fencing, and some workers will be bussed from off-site parking to accommodate the newly implemented measures.

Cobb County, Georgia

In another battleground state, security will also be increased.

The Cobb County Sheriff will have officers at each early voting site and will patrol local precincts.

Police radios were handed over to poll workers, after panic button technology proved too difficult to implement.

Gwinnett County, Georgia

The sheriff in this part of Georgia will oversee security at all polling places, even in unincorporated areas, which are usually patrolled by local police. Local schools are closed on Election Day, so school police will be deployed to polling stations.

The local elections office will have police officers, who have been specifically trained on how best to circumvent an election, to monitor early voting and the counting of absentee ballots once it begins, said Zach Manifold, county elections director, to NBC.

Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Police plan to close the street outside the building where election results are tabulated to control access to the building, said Aaron Dobson, a detective with the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office.

You can read the NBC article in full here…