A number of major question marks hang above this year's midterm elections — with the recent announcement that federal poll monitors will be sent to Fayette and Jefferson counties, Kentucky's two Democratic-leaning regions, to President Donald Trump's refusal to rule out sending immigration officials to polling locations.
Then there are more commonplace concerns, such as delays or confusion regarding ID, that can crop up on Election Day.
The atmosphere has some election watchers concerned about the possibility of disruptions.
UK political science professor Dr. Bridget King specializes in the interaction between the public and the election system. She told an online panel this week that disruptions can take many forms, but the consequences are often predictable.
"If you're unsure or uncertain about a process and you sort of show up in the environment and it feels hostile, that might facilitate a voter deciding to leave and not cast a ballot. If they do stay, they may be discouraged from participating in the future. We also might think about how a protest or something that impedes the physical space might interfere with voters with disabilities and their abilities to cast ballots. Or depending on who the protesters are, who the organization is that is present, language minority voters might also be intimidated from participating," she said.
King says she's also conducting research on how the streaming of live video from ballot counting locations can both increase voters' trust while also endangering workers who may worry about being identified or targeted if controversy arises.