A poll worker walks past voting booths as he waits for voters to arrive at the Miami Beach Fire Station 4 to cast their ballot during the primary on March 19, 2024 in Miami Beach, Florida. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall joined other attorneys general around the country denouncing any potential election violence and calling for respect for the voting process. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and 50 other attorneys general in U.S. states, territories and the District of Columbia signed a statement Monday denouncing any attempts at violence at polls and calling for respect for the voting process.
“A peaceful transfer of power is the highest testament to the rule of law, a tradition that stands at the heart of our nation’s stability,” the statement said. “As attorneys general, we affirm our commitment to protect our communities and uphold the democratic principles we serve.”
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The statement comes three years after supporters of former President Donald Trump attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 as Congress met to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election and mounting concerns of violence while votes are being tabulated. Experts say law enforcement has learned lessons from that day but have remained concerned about the possibilities of unrest.
Federal and state officials have also passed laws to strengthen the vote certification process. The Electoral Count Reform Act, passed by Congress in 2022, clarifies certification procedures and makes it harder for members of Congress to object to counts. States have also moved to protect their certification methods in their own states.
The statement from the attorneys general urged people to vote “and, above all, respect the integrity of the democratic process.”
“Let us come together after this election not divided by outcomes but united in our shared commitment to the rule of law and safety of all Americans,” the statement said. “Violence has no place in the democratic process; we will exercise our authority to enforce the law against any illegal acts that threaten it.”
The group is led by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, both Republicans, and Oregon Attorney General and NAAG President Ellen Rosenblum and Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, both Democrats.
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