Tamás Szele / Magyar Hang
As the U.S. headed to the polls on November 5, hopes for an orderly election driven by official party politics are overshadowed by a disturbing reality. Alt-right influencers, conspiracy theorists, and armed far-right militias are prepared to interfere with the electoral process, notably including figures like recently released alt-right influencer Steve Bannon.
Bannon, freed from federal prison just a week before the election, has vowed to “flood the zone with mud”—a strategy of inundating media with misinformation, blurring the line between fact and fiction. Known for his incendiary rhetoric, Bannon has called on his followers to prepare for relentless post-election conflict, warning that “every day after November 5 will be Stalingrad.”
Militia Plans for Voter Intimidation
Leaked documents from the militia group American Patriots Three Percent (AP3) reveal plans to intimidate voters, coordinated with other election-denying groups. AP3, a far-right militia, has reportedly organized surveillance at ballot drop boxes, drawing on plans they implemented in the 2022 midterms. This information, leaked by the activist group Distributed Denial of Secrets (DDoSecrets), allegedly comes from a member who infiltrated the militia, alarmed by what they saw in preparation for the upcoming presidential election.
According to Devin Burghart of the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights, the AP3 leaks foreshadow potential tactics for November, where election-denying conspiracy theories drive armed militias to interfere with ballot security. “Election denialism, combined with militia activity and rising coordination, is deeply concerning,” Burghart warned.
The leaked files detail how AP3 coordinated with groups like “The People’s Movement” and Clean Elections USA to conduct armed “surveillance” on ballot drop-offs. Scot Seddon, AP3’s leader, directed regional leaders to send members to monitor polling locations, declaring in a leaked video that “the nation’s future depends on it.” Instructions circulated among members emphasize recording any suspected ballot-stuffing activities and reporting them to leaders, creating an environment of surveillance and intimidation.
Organized Tactics to Influence the Vote
The leaked documents reveal that these militia groups are not “lone wolves” but operate in organized networks designed to intimidate voters. Flyers in military-style language outline the militia’s “rules of engagement,” advising members not to disrupt voters but to record suspicious activity and maintain a rapid-response team should any confrontation arise.
Similar to their actions during the 2022 midterms, armed observers have appeared sporadically, notably in Arizona. Despite federal warnings, isolated incidents indicate that these organized groups aim to use intimidation as a tool to influence voter behavior.
Militia Groups Resurface After January 6
Since the January 6 Capitol attack, when militia involvement brought intense scrutiny, some groups restructured, attracting new recruits. In the lead-up to this election, AP3 has ramped up training and recruitment, focusing on a rhetoric of defending the nation against supposed electoral fraud. “The next election won’t be decided at the ballot box,” an AP3 leader wrote in a leaked message, “it’ll be decided from the ammo box.”
With figures like Steve Bannon and alt-right influencers stoking conspiracy theories, the greater danger to election integrity may come from organized militia groups poised to influence voters with intimidation tactics. It’s difficult to expect citizens to cast their ballots freely when armed observers hover over the polls, watching their every move.
