Sheriff’s deputies to be on hand at polling places tomorrow

To ensure a safe and fair Election Day, deputies of Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott’s office will be on hand at polling places tomorrow.

Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller said in a news release the officers would be in plain clothes and have their guns and badges concealed.

“Safety and access must be balanced to ensure voters have confidence they can vote in a safe and nonthreatening environment regardless of the threat they are concerned about,” Schoeller said in the release. “Sheriff Arnott and I are committed to these aforementioned goals.”

Schoeller expects 100,000-120,000 Greene County voters tomorrow to weigh. In the 2012 presidential election, nearly 127,000 people voted, according to GreeneCountyMo.gov.

“Large groups increase the likelihood of rising tensions, in what has already been an emotionally charged election year,” he said in the release. “If an incident occurred and we were not properly prepared to respond, questions would certainly be raised as to why there was not a plan and those concerns would be valid. We want to be proactive and plan accordingly to ensure we are prepared.”

The county clerk did not name any candidates or issues requiring the officers to be present. National media outlets have reported on fears of safety over claims of a rigged election and the two polarizing presidential candidates.