Following a thwarted terror plot related to Election Day, Rep. Ross Ford of Broken Arrow, a Republican, has called for enhanced safety measures at voting sites in Oklahoma. The FBI arrested Afghan national Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, who allegedly planned to target large gatherings next Tuesday, prompting this request for increased vigilance. Tawhedi, 27, residing in Oklahoma City, was reportedly involved in plans with his brother-in-law to carry out the thwarted attack, according to court documents from federal agents.

Ford, leveraging his experience as a former police officer, urged law enforcement peers to maintain heightened alertness. He noted that state election officials are actively working to protect poll workers and voters, highlighting the critical importance of a secure environment on election day, "I know our state election officials are working overtime to ensure poll workers and everyone planning to vote are safe in our upcoming elections," Ford said, "But as a former police officer, I just want to urge other law enforcement officers to be extra diligent during this time," in a statement obtained by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Ford acknowledged the proactive efforts of the FBI, which were instrumental in preventing the alarming plot from developing further, "I'm grateful to the men and women in the FBI, whose hard work and alertness stopped this plot," as per statement from the recent post. He is confident that the upcoming weeks will see equally thorough iterations of vigilance from the FBI and other law enforcement agencies as they continually monitor for suspicious activity and stave off any additional threats to public safety.

As election day approaches, the concern for safety regarding the right to vote continues to be significant, as noted in Ford's comments, "We must ensure people feel safe and secure as they exercise this important right," as stated in the recent post from the Oklahoma House of Representatives.