Reuters has documented more than 850 threatening and hostile messages aimed at election officials and staff related to the 2020 election. Virtually all expressed support for former President Donald Trump or echoed his debunked contention that the election was stolen. The messages spanned 30 jurisdictions in 16 states. They came via emails, voicemails, texts, letters and Internet posts.

Reuters obtained the messages through public records requests, interviews, and an examination of hundreds of online posts. Reporters focused on gathering examples from states that were among the most hotly contested in the 2020 presidential race. The case set isn’t a statistically representative sample, but it offers insights into the nature of this campaign of fear.