The Secret Service announced increased security measures for the counting and certification of electoral votes at the Capitol in January, following the Jan. 6 riot in 2021. The Department of Homeland Security has designated the event as a national special security event, similar to the State of the Union address and the Super Bowl. The Secret Service will oversee planning to prevent a repeat of the chaos that occurred during the 2021 riot when supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol.
The designation of a national special security event is a first for the certification of electoral votes and is aimed at ensuring the safety and security of the event and its participants. The Washington Post first reported the new security designation for the upcoming vote count. The Secret Service said that Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser had requested the designation.
The enhanced security measures will involve federal, state, and local resources to develop a comprehensive security plan. A panel of representatives from various levels of law enforcement will meet in the coming weeks to work on planning for the event. The 2021 Capitol riot resulted in the deaths of four people and assaults on about 140 police officers, as well as around $1.5 million in damage to the building. The Secret Service’s announcement of increased security measures aims to prevent a similar incident from occurring during the upcoming vote count.
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