With election results historically sparking controversy, Tempe officials have prepared ways for students to stay safe after votes are counted.
The Tempe Police Department said it has prepared to handle any incidents during the week of Election Day because they predict that if a dispute were to happen, it would take place the days following Nov. 5.
"We'll be working on it with the same focus on Election Day for the entire week until we feel things are settled," said Tempe Police Department Lieutenant Tyler Watkins.
Watkins said it's possible protests will occur from those unhappy with the election results, and his first suggestion for students to be safe during Election Day is to make sure that any act of protest is done with peace.
"As a police department, we help support people with their First Amendment right to be able to express themselves," Watkins said.
READ MORE: Where to vote on the four major ASU campuses
The Tempe Police Department has an Incident Response Team, according to Watkins, which will help keep the peace if protests get out of control or riots occur.
"Our Incident Response Team is already on standby until the election is decided and there's (a) peaceful resolution," Watkins said.
Watkins said he also recommends that if protests do get violent, students should keep themselves informed, choose to stay home and refrain from participating.
"The problem is, sometimes people who are just there for a peaceful protest get kind of into something that turns violent and it could be dangerous," Watkins said.
Attendees of violent protests face the risk of getting arrested or tear gassed, he said.
Jason Weber, the ASU Police crime prevention manager, said students should trust their instincts and report anything they think might be suspicious.
Weber said students should also aim to avoid any confrontations with people trying to provoke them by disengaging and walking away.
"If you encounter any harassment or intimidation, report it to election officials or law enforcement immediately," Weber said in an emailed statement.
Watkins said the most likely reason for protests after the election is if people suspect voter fraud and refuse to accept the election results.
In this case, he said the Tempe police are prepared, but he hopes people recognize the integrity of the polls.
"We've had a look a couple of years ago on how that might play out," Watkins said. "Maricopa County is in charge of the ballots ... so they've gone to extreme, great lengths to make sure that this process is transparent."
To avoid danger in non-political settings, Weber said students should be cognizant and make sure they are using safe methods of transportation.
"If driving, park in well-lit areas," Weber said in an emailed statement. "If using public transport, stay aware of your surroundings."
Students should also keep their eyes on the local news, staying informed about any new developments with safety advisories, Weber said.
While violence is a pressing concern for the community, students are also aware of the social complexities that come with the political climate and have advised that others be careful with who they surround themselves with post-election.
Alexis Murray, a freshman studying criminology and criminal justice, is personally concerned with who she will be with when the election results roll in.
Murray said she will avoid viewing results with her family as a way to protect herself from any stress they may cause her.
"I want to be alone because my family and everybody I'm close with (has) different viewpoints of me," Murray said. "They're gonna go crazy if it's not their side."
READ MORE: Political divisions create tension among families, students explain
While high tension is always expected during politically polarizing times, Watkins still does not anticipate any extreme protests and feels the Tempe Police along with neighboring departments are prepared to handle whatever they may face after the election.
"We're all going to support each other to make sure that we have adequate staffing," Watkins said. "If anything happens, we all have mutual aid agreements among departments that we will support each other."
Edited by Sophia Braccio, Abigail Beck, Alysa Horton and Natalia Jarrett.
Reach the reporter at ehprest1@asu.edu and follow @ellis_reports on X
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Ellis is a sophomore studying journalism and mass communication. This is her first semester with The State Press. She has also worked at Arizona PBS and Blaze Radio.
