A bipartisan coalition of attorney generals throughout the country has unified a message calling for a peaceful response to the election results.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, a Democrat, issued a Nov. 4 statement entreating a nonviolent response with Ohio Republican Attorney General Dave Yost, Oregon Democrat Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, and Kansas Republican Attorney General Kris Kobach, among others.
“Regardless of the outcome of Tuesday’s election, we expect that Americans will respond peacefully and we condemn any acts of violence related to the results,” the state attorneys said. “A peaceful transfer of power is the highest testament to the rule of law, a tradition that stands at the heart of our nation’s stability. As Attorneys General, we affirm our commitment to protect our communities and uphold the democratic principles we serve.”
Citizens are encouraged to “respect the integrity of the democratic process” by voting and engaging in civil discourse.
“Let us come together after this election not divided by outcomes but united in our shared commitment to the rule of law and safety of all Americans,” the attorney generals said. “Violence has no place in the democratic process; we will exercise our authority to enforce the law against any illegal acts that threaten it.”
The coalition noted polls portending “potential post-election unrest.”
On Oct. 28, The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reported that about four in 10 voters say they are “extremely” or “very” concerned about attempts to violently overturn the election results, while one in three voters are “extremely” or “very” concerned about local or state officials attempting to halt the process from being finalized.
Up to nine in 10 voters—including around eight in 10 Republicans—said the loser of the 2024 presidential election should concede once the states have finished counting and legal issues are settled.
Anticipating the concerns that there may be post-election violence, the attorneys general said they underscore “the duty of elected leaders to ensure public order, promote national unity, and remind Americans of the importance of civil discourse.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.