The Chief Constable, Mr Hugh Orde, has warned of the threat of dissident republican attacks during voting in the North today.
More than 2,000 extra police officers have been drafted into the 610 polling stations in an attempt to thwart any bombings or shootings, he said.
The increase in security follows a Continuity IRA bomb attack on a British army base in Dungannon, Co Tyrone. In a separate incident, shots were fired at a police station in Armagh. No-one was injured in either attack.
Dissident republicans are opposed to the Stormont Assembly, which they claim cements partition.
However, both "Real IRA" and Continuity IRA sources last night said the attacks were part of their "ongoing campaign against British rule" and not particularly aimed at the election.
Mr Orde said extra resources had been put in place.
"We are determined to protect those who want to go out and exercise their democratic right to vote. Over 2,000 officers will be deployed in addition to the ordinary police response to make sure those turning up at the election can take their vote seriously. We take their vote seriously and we are determined to protect them."
Two police officers and a civilian narrowly escaped injury when up to 60lbs of home-made explosives partially detonated at the perimeter fence of the barracks on the Killymeal Road in Dungannon on Monday night.
There had been a telephone warning from a man claiming to be from the Continuity IRA.
Mr Maurice Morrow of the DUP said: "This was a callous attempt to take life. It proves the threat of violence and republican terror has not gone away."
Up to six shots were fired from a car at a police station on the Newry Road in Armagh on Monday night. Mr Orde said: "The two attacks were clearly intended to disrupt the election. We are policing both. We are investigating both. It is a cause for concern but we have said already we are worried about the threat to policing and to local communities in the build-up to the elections."
"We are pretty clear this is dissident republican activity. They are determined to disrupt all the good work that is going on in the peace process. "