Election workers across Maryland were doing their jobs, pushing hard to complete the canvassing of votes in the general election with an approaching deadline.

Suddenly, they were targets. The local Board of Elections in 15 jurisdictions — including Frederick — received emailed bomb threats starting at 7:15 p.m. on Nov. 8, according to Jared DeMarinis, the state administrator of elections.

Frederick County Election Director Barbara Wagner told Frederick News-Post reporter Ceoli Jacoby that the local threat was received about 7:30 p.m. on Friday, a little over an hour after the day’s mail-in ballot canvass was suspended. About 10 people, including elections personnel and a custodian, were still in the building when the email was received, she said.

The Frederick County staff quickly reported the bomb threat to the State Board of Elections, then heard about the threats made elsewhere.

They all turned out to be false, but it nonetheless was a distressing attack on our state’s election system and the vital workings of our governance and society at large.

DeMarinis posted a statement on social media saying that the safety of election workers is a top concern, but canvassing would resume the next day in spite of the threats. He was rightfully outraged.

“Cowardly threats whether from abroad or not shall not deter us. You have failed. Our democracy is strong, our staff is strong, our mission will be accomplished,” DeMarinis wrote.

Wagner said her staff contacted local law enforcement and secured entrances to the building. Those who were inside when the threat was received were moved to a secure location until around midnight, when they were cleared to return to the office, Wagner said.

Frederick County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Katie Robine wrote in an email that her office is handling the follow-up investigation into the local threat.

Wagner said the threat and office evacuation were the first during her tenure with the Board of Elections. She added, however, that other threats have previously been received and referred to the FBI.

Wagner called the bomb threat “disturbing,” but said the local board remains confident that all ballots can be canvassed and the election results certified by Nov. 15.

“Every vote counts, and every vote will be counted,” Wagner said.

That spirit motivates our local election workers. A bomb threat is reprehensible, coming as it did while the workers are trying as promptly as possible to get the final vote totals for our county on the schedule mandated by state law.

Frederick County voters can and should have confidence in the election board staff, which has showed that it deserves the public’s trust.

— The Frederick News-Post