Secure Community Network Launches Comprehensive Initiative to Address Security Threats Ahead of the 2024 General Election

The Secure Community Network (SCN) today announced a comprehensive effort to proactively address potential security issues impacting the Jewish community surrounding the 2024 U.S. general election, ensure the safety of Jewish facilities that are serving as election sites, and guarantee the safety of Jewish community members. SCN is taking a series of steps to protect Jewish communities and institutions across the country during this critical period leading up to Election Day on Tuesday, 05 November.

The effort includes several key components: 

1. Election Security Bulletin: On 17 October, SCN distributed a detailed bulletin to law enforcement, Jewish communal, and intelligence partners. The bulletin outlines specific concerns such as conspiracy theories targeting the Jewish community, to include those related to the community impacting the outcome of the election, and the targeting of election infrastructure, including ballot drop boxes and voter registration databases. It also addresses the potential for foreign interference and influence operations, emphasizing the need for heightened vigilance and coordinated response strategies.
2. Polling Place Monitoring: SCN is actively tracking and monitoring polling places located at Jewish institutions or in densely populated Jewish communities across the country, to include providing outreach and support for communities and institutions before and during Election Day.
3. 2024 Election Safety and Security Considerations Resource: SCN has shared a comprehensive, election-specific resource with Jewish communities across the country, offering practical security advice and best practices leading up to and on Election Day. This resource is available to all community members.
4. Ongoing Collaboration with Key Groups to Ensure Safety & Security: SCN is actively collaborating with key partners, to include major synagogue movements, notably the Orthodox Union, Union for Reform Judaism, and United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, as well as the ADL (Anti-Defamation League), among others, to ensure a coordinated approach to election security. This included participating in a 17 September virtual summitduring which SCN shared a toolkit and presented at several workshops, discussions, and briefings to help Jewish leaders understand the threat of political violence, strategies to prevent or react to it, and proactive opportunities to set positive norms in their community and the public sphere in the lead-up to the election.

SCN’s efforts build on the organization’s ongoing efforts to protect Jewish communities from threat incidents and suspicious activity. The comprehensive approach includes intelligence gathering and information-sharing, election-specific resources, and enhanced coordination with law enforcement agencies.

Jewish institutions and community members are encouraged to review the security resources provided by SCN and to report any suspicious activities or concerns to local law enforcement and SCN’s Duty Desk.

For more information about SCN or to access related resources, please visit securecommunitynetwork.org or use our “Find Your Security Professional” tool to get in contact with your local Jewish community security professional.

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