Strategies to prepare for, respond to, and recover from potential disruptions and risks associated with the 2024 US elections.
2024 is marked by significant global elections, creating both opportunities and risks amid ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, and power struggles between traditional Western alliances and those centered around China. Most prominent in both a global and local context are the US Elections scheduled for 05 November 2024. Domestically, the sharp divide between Republican and Democratic supporters, along with memories of the civil disturbances following the previous two election outcomes, has raised concerns about potential violence.
The 2016 election, for instance, saw a marked increase in incidents of political polarization and violence both in the lead up to, and aftermath of the election – with rioting at anti-Trump demonstrations, and clashes at both far-right marches and Antifa rallies, including the 2017 Charlottesville car attack at a Unite the Right rally. Famously, in 2020, the Trump election defeat led to the arrest of 1400 people, 500 of which were convicted and sent to prison for the attack on the Capitol. Furthermore, 140 police officers were injured, 1 died due to extensive injuries, and 4 more committed suicide. These extreme events demonstrate significant safety concerns and disruption that can follow election results.
![1400 people were arrested following the previous US Presidential Election, including 500 convictions for the attack on the US Capitol building [image source: Sigma7 Intelligence Fusion]](https://www.s7risk.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Blog-1-pic-1.png)
1400 people were arrested following the previous US Presidential Election, including 500 convictions for the attack on the US Capitol building [image source: Sigma7 Intelligence Fusion]
A recent Reuters/Ipsos survey revealed that 68% of US respondents from both parties are worried that extremists might resort to violence if dissatisfied with the election outcome. With the elections fast approaching, organizations must ensure they meet their duty of care and fiduciary responsibilities. This article outlines the measures organizations should take to protect their people, assets, and operations from potential negative impacts.
Understanding plausible scenarios that might affect your business is the first step in crisis preparedness. Monitoring both long and short-term indicators can be achieved through structured reviews of open media sources or platforms such as the Sigma7 Intelligence Fusion Platform. Intelligence Fusion, through our technology and analytical processes, guards against false and inaccurate information, providing you with the facts, intelligence analysis, and insight into every incident and the changing threat context.
Providing staff with the necessary knowledge and guidance is essential for meeting duty of care obligations. Clear policies and practices, robust training, and consistent communication can help avoid confrontation and business disruption. Sigma7 University offers a range of eLearning, virtual reality, instructor-led training, and gamified learning solutions tailored to the US Election risk context, ensuring cost-effective and consistent training across geographically dispersed teams.
Effective crisis response hinges on leadership commitment and the clarity of crisis policies, plans, and management systems. Organizations should align their crisis response plans with international standards, including:
Training and organizing both senior leaders and operational management into defined teams equipped with clear responsibilities and crisis systems is crucial for an effective response. Externally validated simulations and readiness assessments can provide assurance of adequate preparedness. Effective response to an incident or crisis is directly related to the approach undertaken during the preparedness phase. Thorough preparation is key to success.
Clear communication with staff before, during, and after the election is vital, particularly in managing employee well-being and productivity. Working with Human Resources and External Affairs, resilience professionals should consider how authorized information is to be shared with employees, being cognizant of the probable volume and impact of social media in affecting the perceptions of staff both outside and within the workplace.
Sigma7 RSM specializes in building crisis management capabilities, from gap analysis assessments to the creation of comprehensive plans and training programs, ensuring readiness for any potential crisis.
Returning to business as usual swiftly and effectively protects both short-term performance and long-term reputation. Business Impact Analysis helps understand the disruption and financial risks, setting the stage for effective business continuity and disaster recovery plans. In some circumstances, specific Business Continuity Plans may be needed to recover your business to acceptable levels of operation should a critical event occur that impacts your organization or your supply chain. Now is the time to refresh your understanding of the critical risks that could ensue from the elections for your organization and ensure that clear plans exist for minimizing the potential disruption to your business.
For organizations lacking internal capacity, external support may be necessary to ensure a successful recovery. Sigma7 offers expertise in building business continuity and recovery programs, leveraging established management systems to accelerate readiness and control costs.
With the US Elections fast approaching, now is the time for leadership to act. By focusing on preparedness, response, and recovery, organizations can protect their people, assets, and operations from potential election-related disruptions. Sigma7 is here to support your resilience and crisis management needs, ensuring your organization is ready for any challenge.
Author: Colin Brown
Introducing Sigma7. We are building a new kind of risk services platform to enhance value for the world’s most prominent and complex businesses. Our mission is to help organizations create competitive advantage through actionable risk insights and business outcomes. We work globally across risk domains, apply modern technologies, and integrate the services of respected specialist brands in risk services.
We provide executive-level attention from preeminent risk experts, connecting risk profiles to the organization’s strategy and tactical operations.
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