It’s been one of the most contentious and divisive presidential political campaigns in history. And now, on Election Day, Nov. 8, law enforcement around the nation is ready to spring into action should violence erupt during the voting process — or after, when the final results are finally available to campaign-weary Americans.

Half of likely voters say they are at least somewhat concerned about violence either on Election Day or after the results are in, according to a USA Today/Suffolk University poll done in late October. One in five likely voters say they are “very concerned.”

Three thousand Democrat lawyers are being dispatched to polling places in Pennsylvania to look for signs of voter intimidation.

Pennsylvania is one of the most hotly contested states in the country. Trump supporters have referenced 2012 Philadelphia Inquirer news reports about precincts in Philadelphia that reported no votes at all for GOP nominee Mitt Romney.

A Pennsylvania law enforcement officer told LifeZette that he and his fellow officers are prepared for Tuesday.

“Pennsylvania is a unique state, we’re a commonwealth, and we have some quirks in our laws — for lack of a better term,” he said. “Only constables are permitted at polling places on Election Day, and they are the only ones who have the authority on-scene to enforce the law. This year Pennsylvania is a swing state — and a state everyone is concerned about in terms of corruption, so law enforcement is on high alert.”

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The only place in Pennsylvania that doesn’t have constables today is Philadelphia, said the law enforcement official. “Constables were eliminated through a vote, so there’s no law enforcement at all within Philadelphia polling places, unless there is an emergency.”

This officer added, “I heard from a source that 3,000 lawyers who are Democrats are being dispatched to polling places throughout the state. About 2,000 are from Pennsylvania, and another 1,000 are being brought in from Maryland and D.C. They are going to be looking for instances of voter intimidation. I have heard that they are going to create issues if they see someone open-carry [a firearm], which is in fact legal in Pennsylvania.”

In Clarke County, Virginia, conversations about keeping those citizens safe have been ongoing.

“Election officers are trained in emergency procedure and know the protocol,” Barbara Bosserman, general registrar and director of elections for Clarke County, Virginia, told The Winchester Star. “Prior to all elections, we always talk with local and state law enforcement agencies as well as town and county maintenance crews and the [Virginia Department of Transportation].”

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In addition to being prepared for illegal activity or medical emergencies at polling places, contingency plans exist for snow, ice, power outages, and all other emergencies, said Bosserman.

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In Wayne County, North Carolina, local law enforcement is also on standby to handle any trouble or violence.

There have not been any issues with voter intimidation or threats so far, authorities told the Goldsboro News-Argus. Police are, however, keeping a “passive eye” on voting locations and are prepared to respond should they be needed.

“Officers have been made aware that they should ride through the polling areas during early voting, but we have not had any official contact from the Board of Elections saying they need us there,” Goldsboro Police Chief Mike West told the News-Argus.

In Texas, a clear police presence will be evident to voters as they head to the polls on Tuesday.

“I’d like to report I’ve had contact with the Marshall Police Department’s Chief [Eddie] Campa,” Harrison County Sheriff Tom McCool told the county commissioner’s office, according to the Marshall News Messenger. “We’re taking steps to ensure our readiness during this election process in the event there are any problems.”

County authorities are joining other law enforcement agencies across the country who have expressed concerns about the heightened risk of violence on Election Day after a bitter election season.

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“We’re very blessed and very fortunate in our community [that] we do not anticipate any [violence], but we certainly are going to be prepared,” McCool said.

In New Hampshire, a state where concealed-carry of a firearm is legal, the attorney general’s office released a statement a few months ago making clear that voters cannot be barred from voting if they are openly carrying a weapon.

Law enforcement will be ready to respond to any problems at the polls as they arise, whether related to firearms or anything else, New Hampshire Assistant Attorney General Brian Buonamano said.

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“It’s important not to get too bogged down in a parade of horrible hypotheticals,” he told Seacoastonline.com. “If we have circumstances where people are feeling afraid because of the manner in which people are behaving with a gun at a polling place, we are going to treat it on a case-by-case basis.”

The Granite State also runs an election hotline; people can report voting issues or other problems. Rapid response teams will be dispatched in response to problems if need be.

“That’s always the case,” Buonamano said. “But are we also talking about communicating with local police departments? You bet.”