Conspiracy-promoting sheriffs claim vast election authority
2 years, 5 months ago

Conspiracy-promoting sheriffs claim vast election authority

Associated Press  

TOPEKA, Kan. — The sheriff in Kansas’ most populous county says he took it for granted that local elections ran smoothly — until former President Donald Trump lost there in 2020. “What we have seen time and again is that those who support the ‘Big Lie’ find conduits to groups of people who they think can help perpetuate this conspiracy theory and erode confidence in elections and potentially cast doubt on them going forward,” said David Levine, a former election official who is now a fellow with the Alliance for Securing Democracy, a nonpartisan institute with staff in Washington and Brussels whose mission involves combatting efforts to undermine democratic institutions. State and local election officials in Kansas said his office has not gained access to voting machines, and other Johnson County officials said there are no indications of any problems with the 2020 elections there. He said his department has a legal obligation to investigate “any criminal claim.” But a memo from Peg Trent, Johnson County’s chief legal counsel, suggested Hayden went further in a July 5 meeting with her and county election officials. “Johnson County going for Biden — well, that’s not an anomaly,” said Davis Hammet, leader of the Kansas voting-rights group Loud Light.

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History of this topic

US Election Officials Urge Voters to Remain Calm and Trust in the Integrity of the Vote
1 month, 2 weeks ago

US Election Officials Urge Voters to Remain Calm and Trust in the Integrity of the Vote

CNN  

US election officials emphasize the importance of a smooth and secure voting process, urging voters not to be misled by conspiracy theories. Despite false claims of voter fraud, election officials across the country are committed to upholding the integrity of the vote and urging voters to exercise their right to vote without fear or intimidation.

Voting officials face an 'uphill battle' to fight election lies
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Voting officials face an 'uphill battle' to fight election lies

NPR  

Voting officials face an 'uphill battle' to fight election lies toggle caption Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP via Getty Images Last week, a video began circulating on X, formerly Twitter, purporting to show a person in Pennsylvania ripping up ballots marked for former President Donald Trump and leaving alone those marked for Vice President Harris. Sponsor Message “They're fighting an uphill battle,” said …

Voting Conspiracy Theories Flood Election Officials' Lives
2 months ago

Voting Conspiracy Theories Flood Election Officials' Lives

Associated Press  

Election officials are working to combat a tsunami of voting conspiracy theories and misinformation about voting. With less than two weeks before Election Day, a resurgence in conspiracy theories and misinformation about voting is forcing state and local election officials to spend their time debunking rumors and explaining how elections are run at the same time they’re overseeing early voting …

Election Officials Under Fire as Early Voting Begins, Facing a Flood of False Claims
2 months ago

Election Officials Under Fire as Early Voting Begins, Facing a Flood of False Claims

CNN  

Election officials are working to combat misinformation in real time as early voting begins in earnest. They are preparing for a deluge of false and misleading claims, and are actively trying to address issues before they go far. In critical battleground states, conservatives have been sharing uncorroborated instances of machines flipping votes, claims of widespread fraud in mail ballots and …

Election Officials Under Fire as Early Voting Begins, Facing a Flood of False Claims
2 months ago

Election Officials Under Fire as Early Voting Begins, Facing a Flood of False Claims

CNN  

Election officials are working to combat misinformation in real time as early voting begins in earnest. They are preparing for a deluge of false and misleading claims, and are actively trying to address issues before they go far. However, the spread of misinformation continues, with claims of machine flipping votes, voter fraud, and manipulated results circulating on social media. Election …

Election 'gadfly' is singlehandedly injecting chaos into Georgia vote: experts
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Election 'gadfly' is singlehandedly injecting chaos into Georgia vote: experts

Raw Story  

A longtime conspiracy theorist who filed unsuccessful legal challenges to Donald Trump's election loss has grabbed the ear of Georgia officials who will oversee this November's vote, according to a report. Garland Favorito, who published a book in the early 2000s filled with debunked theories on the Sept. 11 attacks and John F. Kennedy's assassination, pushed for new rules later …

Many of the tactics Jack Smith accused Trump of using to overturn the 2020 election are still in play for 2024
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Many of the tactics Jack Smith accused Trump of using to overturn the 2020 election are still in play for 2024

CNN  

CNN — The roadmap laid out by the Justice Department in court this week for how former President Donald Trump tried to overturn the 2020 election feels eerily familiar to many election officials and voting rights advocates who are gearing up for November. “These are about laying groundwork for challenging results.” A Trump campaign spokesperson pointed to the campaign’s released …

Domestic extremists with ‘election-related grievances’ could turn to violence in final weeks of election, FBI and DHS warn
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Domestic extremists with ‘election-related grievances’ could turn to violence in final weeks of election, FBI and DHS warn

CNN  

CNN — The FBI and Department of Homeland Security are concerned that “election-related grievances,” such as a belief in voter fraud, could motivate domestic extremists to engage in violence in the weeks before and after the November election, as it did during the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, according to a new intelligence bulletin from the agencies. …

Texas county braces for heightened election oversight in 2024
4 months ago

Texas county braces for heightened election oversight in 2024

Raw Story  

The Secretary of State’s Office will again assign state inspectors to observe the handling and counting of ballots and monitor election records in Harris County, the state agency said while releasing a new audit outlining problems with the county’s elections in 2021 and 2022. The audit, released late Friday, found that in those years, Harris County election officials did not …

Here Are the Secret Backers of All Those Trump “Election Integrity” Efforts
4 months, 1 week ago

Here Are the Secret Backers of All Those Trump “Election Integrity” Efforts

Slate  

Battles over “election integrity” are sometimes cast as policy-oriented disagreements about how elections should be administered, or even as partisan efforts to gain a political advantage. Related From Slate One of the Most Conservative State Supreme Courts in the Country Just Rebuked Dobbs In pursuit of these goals, the group is channeling millions of dollars toward backing anti-transgender ballot measures, …

Election certification disputes in handful of states spark concerns over 2024 presidential contest
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Election certification disputes in handful of states spark concerns over 2024 presidential contest

LA Times  

In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, two Republican members of a county canvassing board last month refused to sign off on the results of an election that led to the recall of three GOP members of the county commission. In Georgia’s Fulton County, which includes the Democratic-leaning city of Atlanta, a group run by members of former President Trump’s administration last month …

A group of Republicans has united to defend the legitimacy of US elections and those who run them
7 months, 2 weeks ago

A group of Republicans has united to defend the legitimacy of US elections and those who run them

Associated Press  

Follow live: Updates from AP’s coverage of the presidential election. “We have to be prepared to say over and over again -- other states are doing it different than us, but they are not cheating.” Sterling, the chief operating officer for the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office, is part of an effort begun after the last presidential election that seeks …

Trump’s call to ‘go into’ cities and ‘watch’ elections sounds alarms
1 year ago

Trump’s call to ‘go into’ cities and ‘watch’ elections sounds alarms

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald …

Column: Election officials are quitting in droves. Here’s why you should care
1 year, 2 months ago

Column: Election officials are quitting in droves. Here’s why you should care

LA Times  

Election workers check ballots at a processing center in Orange County. New research by a political reform group, Issue One, has given us something else to worry about: a troubling exodus of local election officials — those on the front lines fighting for truth, justice and the American way. The latest study suggests it’s now happening — particularly in battleground …

Georgia election indictment highlights wider attempts to illegally access voting equipment
1 year, 4 months ago

Georgia election indictment highlights wider attempts to illegally access voting equipment

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — A day after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, as the country was still reeling from the violent attempt to halt the transfer of presidential power, a local Republican Party official greeted a group of computer experts outside the election office in a rural county in south Georgia, where they were given access to voting …

Efforts to deceive are a top concern among state election officials heading into 2024
1 year, 5 months ago

Efforts to deceive are a top concern among state election officials heading into 2024

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Efforts to deceive the public about voting and elections remain a top concern for state election officials as they dig into preparations for the 2024 election. So, we’re planning for the worst, which is that multiple communications channels will be filled with false and misleading information.” State election officials in Michigan and Colorado said they were particularly concerned …

'Crisis situation': Arizona's top prosecutor vows crackdown on threats to election officials
1 year, 9 months ago

'Crisis situation': Arizona's top prosecutor vows crackdown on threats to election officials

Raw Story  

While her predecessor used a dedicated election crimes division to investigate hundreds of bogus election fraud claims, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes says she will redirect the unit’s focus to prosecute election-related threats and protect voting rights. And the Election Integrity Unit is also investigating a much larger effort to undermine the will of the voters — one that is …

GOP election deniers are gaining control of Republican operations
1 year, 10 months ago

GOP election deniers are gaining control of Republican operations

Raw Story  

Republicans who ran on election conspiracy theories lost a number of critical races around the country last year — in particular several who were running to be secretaries of state, administering state election systems themselves. And in July, Idaho Republicans chose Dorothy Moon, a former state legislator who has said there was a 'big problem' with the 2020 vote and …

“Hyper-partisan attack”: Arizona GOP advances new voting bills inspired by conspiracy theories
1 year, 10 months ago

“Hyper-partisan attack”: Arizona GOP advances new voting bills inspired by conspiracy theories

Salon  

Arizona's Republican-controlled state legislature advanced bills last month that they claim will improve election transparency — but voting rights advocates worry will actually have the opposite effect. "There's a lack of confidence from some of my constituents in the election itself," Republican state Rep. Rachel Jones of Tucson, who presented the bill, said during the committee meeting. "These are the …

How election officials staved off chaos at polling places Tuesday
2 years, 1 month ago

How election officials staved off chaos at polling places Tuesday

CNN  

CNN — In many ways, the 2022 elections were an example of the plane landing safely. “It’ll be a real test of our mental toughness, but I’m much more confident today than I was yesterday in our ability to cut through the nonsense and defend democracy.” ‘This time it wasn’t a surprise’ Those in the election community said the past …

The most worrisome election this cycle is Arizona’s secretary of state race.
2 years, 1 month ago

The most worrisome election this cycle is Arizona’s secretary of state race.

Slate  

Less than one week before Election Day, former President Barack Obama—not generally considered one to spread sky-is-falling resistance grift—nonetheless issued a dire warning while campaigning in Arizona. He was also one of the leading figures to endorse last year’s misbegotten Arizona election audit that attempted to discredit the results of the 2020 race. National Republican figures like Liz Cheney and …

How to avoid sharing false or misleading news about the election
2 years, 1 month ago

How to avoid sharing false or misleading news about the election

NPR  

How to avoid sharing false or misleading news about the election Enlarge this image toggle caption George Frey/AFP via Getty Images George Frey/AFP via Getty Images As Election Day approaches and the rhetoric and vitriol increase, it's useful to remember the wise and immortal words of Smokey the Bear: "Only you can prevent wildfires." The most significant case of election …

EXPLAINER: Threats to US election security grow more complex
2 years, 1 month ago

EXPLAINER: Threats to US election security grow more complex

Associated Press  

BOSTON — Top U.S. election security officials say protecting the nation’s voting systems has become increasingly challenging. With the midterm elections just days away, the director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Jen Easterly, and other officials say they have no evidence that election infrastructure has been altered by hostile actors to prevent voting or vote counting, compromise …

Jan. 6 Committee hands over 'key evidence' that could undermine Trump's defense against criminal charges: report
2 years, 1 month ago

Jan. 6 Committee hands over 'key evidence' that could undermine Trump's defense against criminal charges: report

Raw Story  

The House Select Committee investigating the January 6th Capitol riots has handed over what the Atlanta Journal Constitution describes as "key evidence" to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. In particular, the AJC reports that Willis and her team are interested in testimony from former Trump advisers that he privately acknowledged legitimately losing the election to Biden at times, which …

Conspiracy pushers target races for local election posts
2 years, 1 month ago

Conspiracy pushers target races for local election posts

Associated Press  

SHELTON, Wash. — Sixteen candidates for local office circled around the atrium of the municipal building on a recent night in Shelton, a logging town near the southern crook of Puget Sound. “You’re not going to know where the vulnerability will be,” said Litman, whose group Run for Something has announced an $80 million effort over three years to recruit …

Falsehoods, harassment stress local election offices in US
2 years, 2 months ago

Falsehoods, harassment stress local election offices in US

Associated Press  

CARROLLTON, Ohio — With early voting less than three weeks away, Nicole Mickley was staring down a daunting to-do list: voting machines to test, poll workers to recruit, an onslaught of public records requests to examine. “I feel like ever since we took office in ’19, it’s just been a constant rollercoaster,” said Mickley, whose 36 months on the job …

GOP's AG Nominee In Michigan Pushes Election Fraud Lies While Facing Election Fraud Probe
2 years, 2 months ago

GOP's AG Nominee In Michigan Pushes Election Fraud Lies While Facing Election Fraud Probe

Huff Post  

Matthew DePerno, the Republican nominee for attorney general in Michigan who has made a name for himself by pushing lies about the 2020 election — and by becoming the target of an investigation into whether he illegally tampered with voting machines — is spending the final stretch of his campaign spouting new falsehoods about supposed election crimes. In a recent …

Far-right 'constitutional sheriffs' now turn to hunting 'fraud' in midterm elections
2 years, 3 months ago

Far-right 'constitutional sheriffs' now turn to hunting 'fraud' in midterm elections

Raw Story  

A controversial group of right-wing sheriffs that has spread false claims about voter fraud in the 2020 election and propagated Donald Trump's Big Lie is now vowing to monitor this year's midterm elections through surveillance of drop boxes and a hotline for reporting purported election fraud. "There were many instances after the 2020 election where individuals who were questioning the …

Far-right "constitutional sheriffs" now turn to hunting "fraud" in midterm elections
2 years, 3 months ago

Far-right "constitutional sheriffs" now turn to hunting "fraud" in midterm elections

Salon  

A controversial group of right-wing sheriffs that has spread false claims about voter fraud in the 2020 election and propagated Donald Trump's Big Lie is now vowing to monitor this year's midterm elections through surveillance of drop boxes and a hotline for reporting purported election fraud. "There were many instances after the 2020 election where individuals who were questioning the …

False allegations of voter fraud in 2020 led to increased threats against Texas election workers
2 years, 4 months ago

False allegations of voter fraud in 2020 led to increased threats against Texas election workers

Raw Story  

A rise in election-related misinformation has led to increased threats and intimidation of election workers in Texas and other states, according to a report released Thursday by a U.S. House committee. A Texas elections administrator from Tarrant County told the committee there was a social media call to “hang him when convicted for fraud and let his lifeless body hang …

DOJ's election threats task force gets grilled after securing just one conviction despite more than 1,000 referrals
2 years, 5 months ago

DOJ's election threats task force gets grilled after securing just one conviction despite more than 1,000 referrals

Raw Story  

A Department of Justice task force to combat violent threats against election workers has received more than 1,000 referrals since it was launched in July 2021 but has only secured one conviction, a House hearing revealed Wednesday. “It’s received well over 1,000 reports of threats, but it’s only secured one conviction,” said Rep. Richie Torres, D-NY, House Homeland Security Committee …

Election leaders urge openness to dispel misinformation
2 years, 5 months ago

Election leaders urge openness to dispel misinformation

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The key to dispelling conspiracy theories and misinformation about how elections are run is to confront the lies head on, top state election officials said Wednesday. “When it comes to election results, it’s really pretty simple,” said Blake Evans, state elections director for Georgia. Unfortunately, usually under that kind of formula, there’s going to be slightly less …

Election officials face security challenges before midterms
2 years, 5 months ago

Election officials face security challenges before midterms

Associated Press  

— Election officials preparing for the upcoming midterms face a myriad of threats, both foreign and domestic, as they look to protect voting systems and run a smooth election while fighting a wave of misinformation that has been undermining public confidence in U.S. elections. The nation’s top state election officials gathered Thursday for the start of their annual summer conference, …

The election system shuddered in 2020. Now, there are fears of an attack within
2 years, 7 months ago

The election system shuddered in 2020. Now, there are fears of an attack within

NPR  

The election system shuddered in 2020. Enlarge this image toggle caption Elaine Cromie for NPR Elaine Cromie for NPR This change to the training is just one small indication of how much harder running elections has become since Donald Trump's campaign to discredit and overturn the 2020 presidential election. Enlarge this image toggle caption Elaine Cromie for NPR Elaine Cromie …

Georgia election officials dispute film’s voter fraud claims
2 years, 7 months ago

Georgia election officials dispute film’s voter fraud claims

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — The Republican head of Georgia’s election board said Tuesday a recently released film alleging ballots were illegally collected and dropped off during the 2020 presidential election falsely suggests there were tens of thousands of illegitimate votes in the state. “It’s just the manner of its delivery was illegal.” The movie uses research from the Texas-based nonprofit True the …

In election misinformation fight, ‘2020 changed everything’
2 years, 8 months ago

In election misinformation fight, ‘2020 changed everything’

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Beth Bowers grew up in the 1960s and 1970s with parents who marched in protests, wrote letters to members of Congress and voted in elections big and small. Now, there’s a lot of people calling it into question.” The voting advocacy group Common Cause will rely on thousands of volunteers like Bowers to identify misinformation floating around online …

What happens if officials who run elections think they’re rigged?
2 years, 8 months ago

What happens if officials who run elections think they’re rigged?

Raw Story  

Originally published by The 19th Tina Peters says she was just looking into potential election fraud. We can literally name the people who aren’t.” Wednesday’s report by the Bipartisan Policy Center and the group Election Reformers Network examines how most of America’s election officials are chosen through partisan elections or picked by members of political parties — a system that …

Some GOP states seek new police units for election probes
2 years, 9 months ago

Some GOP states seek new police units for election probes

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Republicans responding to the myth of widespread voter fraud are turning to a new tactic to appease voters who believe the claims: election police. The efforts to establish law enforcement units dedicated to investigating election crimes come as Republican lawmakers and governors move to satisfy the millions of voters in their party who believe former President Donald …

Questions remain about GOP’s election ‘investigation’
3 years, 1 month ago

Questions remain about GOP’s election ‘investigation’

Associated Press  

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Many questions remain unanswered Tuesday as to what Republicans in Pennsylvania’s Senate can accomplish from what they call a “forensic investigation” into last year’s presidential election now that they have hired a contractor that has not pointed to any experience in elections. Pressed for details about his aims, Lahr said only that his team will examine last …

Officials describe threats following 2020 election
3 years, 1 month ago

Officials describe threats following 2020 election

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Election officials told a congressional committee Tuesday they’ve received graphic threats to their safety since the 2020 election and warned that pressure on election workers is a threat to democracy. Experienced election administrators are increasingly leaving the field as they face unsupported accusations of manipulating election results, a bipartisan group of state election officials told the Senate Rules …

Republicans, elections experts say Wisconsin probe is flawed
3 years, 3 months ago

Republicans, elections experts say Wisconsin probe is flawed

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Former Republican officeholders and elections experts said Wednesday that the GOP-ordered investigation into the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin lacks credibility, transparency and raises security risks and legal concerns. “It’s clear these are bad faith efforts, not fact-finding missions but rather political stunts to keep the lies of the 2020 election alive,” said Whitman, who served in …

Experts warn of dangers from breach of voter system software
3 years, 3 months ago

Experts warn of dangers from breach of voter system software

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — Republican efforts questioning the outcome of the 2020 presidential race have led to voting system breaches that election security experts say pose a heightened risk to future elections. Copies of the Dominion Voting Systems software used to manage elections — from designing ballots to configuring voting machines and tallying results — were distributed at an event this month …

Death Threats And Conspiracy Theories: Why 2020 Won't End For Election Officials
3 years, 4 months ago

Death Threats And Conspiracy Theories: Why 2020 Won't End For Election Officials

NPR  

Death Threats And Conspiracy Theories: Why 2020 Won't End For Election Officials Enlarge this image toggle caption Christina Almeida Cassidy/AP Christina Almeida Cassidy/AP It's been more than nine months since Election Day 2020, but as the nation's top election officials met in Iowa over the weekend, it was clear the shadow of that race will stretch far into the future …

Election officials say combating lies will be big challenge
3 years, 10 months ago

Election officials say combating lies will be big challenge

Associated Press  

After an election season dominated by conspiracy theories and false claims about voting, top election officials across the country say they already are bracing for what comes next. “It’s unfortunate that is the case that we have now.” Jared Dearing, executive director for the State Board of Elections in Kentucky, said people still contact his office believing the presidential election …

Election officials say combating lies will be big challenge
3 years, 10 months ago

Election officials say combating lies will be big challenge

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “It’s unfortunate that is the case that we …

Trump's Conspiracy Theories Raise Concerns About Turnout In Georgia Senate Runoffs
4 years ago

Trump's Conspiracy Theories Raise Concerns About Turnout In Georgia Senate Runoffs

NPR  

Trump's Conspiracy Theories Raise Concerns About Turnout In Georgia Senate Runoffs Enlarge this image toggle caption Lisa Hagen/WABE Lisa Hagen/WABE High-profile supporters of President Trump took the stage in Georgia on Wednesday to spread conspiracy theories and tell the state's Republicans not to vote in the crucial U.S. Senate runoffs there next month. We ain't gonna go vote on Jan. …

US election 2020 most secure in American history: Top officials
4 years, 1 month ago

US election 2020 most secure in American history: Top officials

India TV News  

A coalition of federal and state officials found no evidence that votes were compromised or altered in last week’s presidential election, rejecting unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud advanced by President Donald Trump and many of his supporters. The statement late Thursday, by government and industry officials who coordinate election cybersecurity, trumpeted the Nov. 3 election as the most secure in …

Officials And Experts Say Election Went Unexpectedly Well
4 years, 1 month ago

Officials And Experts Say Election Went Unexpectedly Well

NPR  

Officials And Experts Say Election Went Unexpectedly Well The U.S. voting system faced many challenges in 2020, including the coronavirus pandemic, a highly divided electorate and allegations of fraud. PAM FESSLER, BYLINE: In the days following Election Day, even as tens of thousands of workers continued to count the votes, there was a collective sigh of relief from those who …

Swing-state GOP leaders amplified election denial in 2020 − and may do so again
4 years, 1 month ago

Swing-state GOP leaders amplified election denial in 2020 − and may do so again

Raw Story  

By Sadie Dempsey, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Benny Witkovsky, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Jianing Li, Rutgers University; Michael W. Wagner, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Yiming Wang, University of Wisconsin-Madison With the 2024 election just weeks away, former President Donald Trump continues to spread false claims of fraud in the 2020 election. Therefore, the 2024 Election, where Votes have just started being cast, …

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