FBI broadens election worker definition, urges public to report threats via new tips portal ahead of 2026 midterms

The FBI issued public service announcements warning of threats to election workers and detailing federal election crimes ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections. These advisories target organizations involved in election administration, including those employing staff, volunteers, contractors and vendors who support the electoral process.

What constitutes a threat to election workers?

The FBI defines election workers as individuals with responsibility for any aspect of election administration. This broad definition includes elected and appointed officials, staff, volunteers, contractors, vendors and liaisons. Threats against these individuals can be communicated through telephone calls, emails, social media posts or in-person statements. The agency states it takes all threats of violence targeting these workers seriously, regardless of the communication method used.

Which activities are classified as federal election crimes?

Election crimes fall into several categories that undermine public confidence in the democratic process. These include civil rights violations such as voter suppression or intimidation, and providing false information during voter registration. Other offenses involve tampering with ballots, threatening voters with physical or financial harm, and intentionally lying about election logistics to prevent qualified voters from participating.

Additional federal crimes include accepting contributions from foreign or prohibited sources, using campaign funds for personal or unauthorized purposes, and accepting money or value in exchange for voting for a specific candidate. The FBI encourages voters to seek election information from trustworthy sources and to verify the intent and origin of content they encounter online.

How should organizations report suspected violations?

Individuals aware of federal election crimes or threats to election workers should report them to their local FBI field office or submit an electronic tip. Reports should include available details such as the names of individuals, election workers or candidates involved. Submitters should also provide screenshots of threatening information concerning election workers or polling locations, and screenshots of social media posts spreading false voting information.

For campaign finance violations, reporters should include the name, company or website address of individuals soliciting illegal contributions. The FBI advises checking the registration status of political action committees or party committees on the Federal Election Commission website before making donations. Official websites like the U.S. Election Assistance Commission or USA.gov can verify polling place dates, times and locations.

Questions to ask your suppliers

Security and legal teams should review contracts with vendors supporting election-related activities to ensure compliance with federal election laws. Organizations must verify that third-party contractors understand the broad definition of election workers and the associated safety risks. Check whether suppliers have protocols for reporting threats received by their staff, especially if those threats involve election administration. Ensure communication channels are established so vendors can quickly alert internal security teams about suspicious contacts or harassment targeting their employees who work on election projects.

What to do and how to stay safe: FBI

• Verify the authenticity of election-related communications using official government websites rather than social media posts.
• Monitor vendor communications for signs of harassment or threats and establish a clear reporting chain for such incidents.
• Review campaign finance guidelines to ensure no prohibited contributions are accepted from foreign or unauthorized sources.
• Use built-in reporting tools on social media platforms to flag posts spreading false information about voting logistics.

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Frequently asked questions

Who is considered an election worker by the FBI?

The FBI defines election workers broadly to include elected officials, appointed officials, staff, volunteers, contractors, vendors and liaisons responsible for election administration.

How can I report a threat to an election worker?

You can report threats to your local FBI field office or submit an electronic tip, including details like names and screenshots of the threatening content.

What are examples of federal election crimes?

Examples include voter intimidation, ballot tampering, providing false registration information, accepting foreign contributions and using campaign funds for personal use.