Pocket reference guides provide law enforcement officials with up-to-date state election law information to help protect against violence, threats and intimidation.
The Committee for Safe and Secure Elections (CSSE) announced the release of its updated 2025 law enforcement quick reference guides in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. These pocket-sized resources are a collection of each state’s election security laws, providing officers and government officials with a convenient resource which helps them to protect election operations, voters and election workers from potential threats, intimidation or obstruction.
The Committee first developed these quick reference guides in 2022 to help address the increasing threats and pressure faced by election officials. The idea was inspired by CSSE’s Chair Emeritus, Neal Kelley, who drew on his prior experience as a police officer. During his time in law enforcement, Kelley relied on pocket-sized legal guides during traffic stops to ensure officers had easy access to relevant laws. When he later became Orange County’s Registrar of Voters, he recognized that law enforcement officers needed similar tools to support the safe administration of elections.
Since then, the guides have expanded to cover every state and the District of Columbia. The 2025 guides reflect new statutes and amendments in each state, ensuring officers have the most current and accurate information as they prepare for this year’s elections.
Recent findings from the Brennan Center for Justice reveal that more than one in three local election officials have experienced threats, harassment or abuse because of their job, and more than half of local election officials have reported concerns about the safety of their colleagues. Importantly, the share of election offices coordinating with local law enforcement in the past election cycle rose from 62 percent in 2024 to 82 percent in 2025. These findings show why accessible, reliable resources are critical for helping officers maintain secure polling sites.
To further support election security, CSSE has introduced additional resources this year, including the Security Assessment Checklist and the Bomb Threat Resource Guide, to help election officials and law enforcement stay prepared. Committee members also continue to travel the country to lead tabletop exercises (TTXs) which build relationships between law enforcement officers and election officials, and help the two groups better prevent and respond to election-related violence and intimidation.
To view the 2025 Law Enforcement Quick Reference Guides, visit https://tinyurl.com/mryxvcpt