Snapshot 2
Experiences of Marginalized Groups
Experiences of Marginalized Groups
Understanding which voters were safe, who faced threats, and the impact of fear on voting plans
For the vast majority of people, voting is safe. After the 2024 election, most voters reported feeling safe, but experiences varied substantially across demographics. Some faced intimidation or harassment, while others took precautionary measures to avoid potential risks.
This snapshot explores who felt safe, who didn’t, and how safety concerns affected voting plans, especially for marginalized communities. It also explores public officials’ perceptions of and experiences with voter safety.
For the vast majority of people, voting is safe. After the 2024 election, most voters reported feeling safe, but experiences varied substantially across demographics. Some faced intimidation or harassment, while others took precautionary measures to avoid potential risks.
This snapshot explores who felt safe, who didn’t, and how safety concerns affected voting plans, especially for marginalized communities. It also explores public officials’ perceptions of and experiences with voter safety.
Incidents of Violence
Most Voters Felt Safe–But Some Encountered Intimidation
The majority of voters did not experience violence while casting their ballots in 2024. However, a small but important percentage did, reporting harassment, intimidation, or verbal threats at polling places and beyond. These voters who experienced incidents were most often from marginalized groups.
Americans were aware that rates of violence and harassment were generally low, but that voters of color and gender-nonconforming voters faced more safety threats.
Election officials and election workers also identified these as two of the most targeted groups, but were not as accurate in their assessments of other groups’ risks.
Safety incidents weren’t limited to in-person voting. Online harassment and intimidation in public spaces were also commonly cited by those who reported experiencing election-related violence.
The majority of voters did not experience violence while casting their ballots in 2024. However, a small but important percentage did, reporting harassment, intimidation, or verbal threats at polling places and beyond. These voters who experienced incidents were most often from marginalized groups.
Americans were aware that rates of violence and harassment were generally low, but that voters of color and gender-nonconforming voters faced more safety threats. Election officials and election workers also identified these as two of the most targeted groups, but were not as accurate in their assessments of other groups’ risks.
Safety incidents weren’t limited to in-person voting. Online harassment and intimidation in public spaces were also commonly cited by those who reported experiencing election-related violence.
10%
of voters reported experiencing some form of election-related violence.
of voters reported experiencing some form of election-related violence.
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Share of voters who experienced each incident while voting, post-election
0%
10%
20%
Any type
10%
0%
10%
20%
Verbal harassment or threats
5%
Personal info online
3%
Property destroyed or damaged
2%
Non-serious physical violence
2%
Serious physical violence
1%
Explore incidents of election-related violence in the
Social media was the most commonly cited location of election-related violence or harassment.
Social media was the most commonly cited location of election-related violence or harassment.
Share of Americans reporting awareness of election-related violence at each location, post-election
0%
20%
40%
60%
Social media
33%
Outside polling places
13%
Ballot drop boxes
12%
While waiting in line to vote
9%
Inside polling places
7%
Campaign offices
6%
Counting or ballot processing locations
5%
Election officials’ offices
4%
None of these
55%
Explore incidents of election-related violence in the
Recommendation 1
Communicate to voters that it’s safe to vote across the country because rates of violence at the polls are extremely low.
Non-white and gender-nonconforming voters were correctly identified as having been at highest risk during the election.
Non-white and gender-nonconforming voters were correctly identified as having been at highest risk during the election.
Estimates of how many voters in each group experienced election-related violence, post-election
Perceived prevalence by election officials
Perceived prevalence by election workers
Perceived prevalence by voters
None
1
2
3
4
A majority or all
5
Women
Men
Gender-nonconforming
White
People of color
Democrats
Independents
Republicans
Explore perception of risk in the
Gender-Nonconforming Voting
Gender-Nonconforming Voters Face Unique Challenges When Voting
I
go
out
of
my
way
to
dress
as
nondescript
as
possible
so
it’s
not
obvious
by
looking
at
me
how
I’m
voting
and
I
keep
my
head
down.
We
live
in
a
conservative
area
and
the
town’s
group
is
people
with
guns
who
are
not
shy
about
using
them
and
are
very
open
about
— Asian Gender-nonconforming Democratic voterthat.
When
I
moved,
I
had
to
change
my
voting
status.
I
had
to
go
in
person
to
do
this.
I
was
pre-transition,
pre-T.
So,
I
wasn’t
as
passing
as
I
am
now.
It
was
an
intimidating
experience
with
the
people
outside
and
the
things
they
were
saying.
They
could
pick
people
out,
like
me.…For
me,
it
will
be
different
because
I
now
present
as
a
cis-white
— White Gender-nonconforming Democratic votermale.
I
am
obviously
queer
when
you
look
at
me,
and
I’ve
been
harassed
for
it.
Depending
on
how
I
do
my
hair
or
what
I
wear
that
day,
it’s
a
higher
chance
I’ll
get
harassed.
If
I
was
girly,
I
would
be
afraid
someone
could
see
through
that
and
do
me
— Asian Gender-nonconforming Democratic voterharm.
While all voters should feel safe participating in democracy, gender-nonconforming voters reported the highest levels of violence or harassment of all demographic groups, and also were the most likely to change their voting behavior due to safety concerns.
These respondents reported unique challenges during the voting process, including being targeted because of their gender identities and issues arising when their identification did not match how they physically presented.
While all voters should feel safe participating in democracy, gender-nonconforming voters reported the highest levels of violence or harassment of all demographic groups, and also were the most likely to change their voting behavior due to safety concerns.
These respondents reported unique challenges during the voting process, including being targeted because of their gender identities and issues arising when their identification did not match how they physically presented.
18%
reported experiencing some form of election-related violence.
reported experiencing some form of election-related violence.
Share of gender-nonconforming voters who experienced each incident while voting, post-election
0%
5%
10%
15%
Verbal harassment or threats
13%
Property destroyed or damaged
4%
Non-serious physical violence
2%
Personal info online
2%
Serious physical violence
0%
Explore incidents of election-related violence in the
53%
took at least one safety precaution.
took at least one safety precaution.
Share of gender-nonconforming voters who took each precaution out of safety concerns, post-election
0%
8%
16%
24%
Voting by mail
23%
Voting at a specific time
18%
Voting with others
18%
Not interacting
13%
Not bringing children
9%
Dressing in a specific way
7%
Explore safety precautions among all voter groups in the
Data Playground
Explore Experiences of Election Violence
View mode
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Completely unsafe
2%
Mostly unsafe
2%
Neither safe nor unsafe
6%
Mostly safe
31%
Completely safe
59%
See how partisanship influenced perceptions of safety in