Georgia election board considers rule change to protect secret ballots | Mark Niesse/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Election security advocates are urging changes to voting procedures in Georgia, as they claim it's too easy to observe other voters' choices on the state's bright touchscreens, potentially violating the right to a secret ballot. The State Election Board is considering a rule that would allow voters to use hand-filled paper ballots in places where secrecy can't be ensured, potentially replacing the use of touchscreens entirely. Advocates argue that with the high-stakes elections of 2024 approaching, safeguarding voter privacy is crucial, while the secretary of state's office contends that training election workers to angle the screens properly addresses the concerns. The proposed rule change highlights a conflict between Georgia's constitutional requirement for secret ballots and the state law calling for absolute secrecy in voting, versus the requirement for in-person voters to use specific Dominion Voting Systems touchscreens. This conflict has been the subject of previous unsuccessful challenges. Read ArticleNational: As Trump Prosecutions Move Forward, Threats and Concerns Increase | Michael S. Schmidt, Adam Goldman, Alan Feuer, Maggie Haberman and Glenn Thrush/The New York Times
The prosecutions against former President Donald Trump have led to a surge in threats against law enforcement authorities, judges, elected officials, and others, prompting increased protective measures. This climate of threats and harassment is causing concern among experts who fear the potential for lone-wolf attacks or riots by angry individuals. Surveys show an increase in the percentage of Americans who believe the use of force is justified to restore Trump to the presidency. Attorney General Merrick Garland addressed the issue, emphasizing the importance of the rule of law and the need to protect public servants from intimidation. Read ArticleNational: When an Olive Branch Meeting Over Voting Machine Technology Turned Into Fresh Controversy | Eric Geller/The Messenger
Election technology companies held a three-day event to engage with security professionals and invited them to probe for vulnerabilities in their newly developed election devices. The event aimed to foster transparent communication between technology providers and researchers, but it stirred controversy in the election security community due to the exclusion of some leading experts. Critics argue that any security scrutiny is better than none, but the event may be perceived as more of a publicity stunt. While election vendors emphasized the unique challenges and safeguards in elections, security experts stressed the importance of addressing digital vulnerabilities alongside operational protections. Read ArticleNational: Senate panel weighs free speech and deep fakes in AI campaign ads | Jacob Fischler/States Newsroom
Members of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration raised concerns about the potential misuse of AI in next year's election campaigns during a hearing. AI's ability to create realistic but fake content, such as manipulated images and videos, poses a significant challenge for elections, potentially enabling disinformation campaigns. Committee Chair Amy Klobuchar advocated for the establishment of regulations to govern AI's use in elections, proposing a bipartisan bill to ban deceptive campaign materials generated by AI. Read ArticleNational: X Fires Its Election Team Before a Huge Election Year | Vittoria Elliott/Wired
X, formerly known as Twitter, has dismissed its head of threat intelligence, Aaron Rodericks, and four team members responsible for countering disinformation and misinformation. This move comes just months before the US Republican primaries kick off the 2024 American election cycle, amidst a year when over 50 countries worldwide are heading to the polls. Rodericks’ team was focused on identifying and thwarting malicious actors on the platform, particularly those targeting elections. Critics argue that letting go of Rodericks and his team may embolden such malicious actors and make it easier for them to operate on the platform. The firings also coincide with X rolling back a feature that allowed users in several countries to report tweets containing hate speech or misinformation. Additionally, the trust and safety teams, responsible for content moderation, elections, and misinformation, have been significantly reduced since Elon Musk took over the company. Experts warn that with elections looming in numerous countries, this move could have far-reaching implications for safeguarding the integrity of democratic processes globally. Read ArticleArizona: Maricopa County argues that Kari Lake is legally barred from seeing voters’ signatures | Howard Fischer/Tucson Daily Star
Kari Lake, the Republican candidate who lost the 2022 Arizona gubernatorial race, is seeking access to ballot envelope images and signatures to support her claim that Maricopa County improperly counted some early ballots. However, Maricopa County's attorney argues that Arizona's Election Code specifies that voter registration records "shall not be accessible or reproduced by any person other than the voter." This, he contends, overrides laws presuming public disclosure. Additionally, the attorney suggests that even if the records were considered public, Arizona law allows for withholding them if their release is deemed "not in the best interests of the public." Read Article98% of Arizonans will have new elections officials in 2024, report finds | Jerod MacDonald-Evoy/AZ Mirror
Arizona is facing a significant turnover in election officials, with 98% of the state expected to have new officials overseeing elections in 2024 compared to those who managed the 2020 elections, according to a report by the nonpartisan political reform organization, Issue One. This mass exodus of experienced officials is attributed to election misinformation and threats of violence directed at election workers since 2020, leading to a loss of 176 collective years of experience. The report emphasizes the urgency for lawmakers in Washington, D.C. to provide regular funding and increased protections for election officials to ensure the integrity of the democratic process. Read ArticlesColorado: More than a third of state’s election officials have left office since 2020 — sparking concerns ahead of 2024 | Seth Klamann/Denver Post
Over the past three years, more than a third of Colorado's local election officials have left their positions, driven by factors like term limits and harassment-related fatigue. This high turnover rate raises concerns as the state approaches the 2024 presidential election, with nearly half of Coloradans now living in a county with a new election clerk. Threats and harassment directed at election workers since the 2020 election have been cited as significant factors in these departures, with the state losing 24 top election officials in this period, impacting 38% of its counties. The bipartisan reform group Issue One is advocating for increased federal funding and protections to address this issue and strengthen the democratic process. Read ArticleConnecticut: Towns to get $25 million for voting machine upgrade | Patrick Skahill/Connecticut Public
Connecticut is poised for a significant upgrade to its voting machines, as Governor Ned Lamont announced plans for a $25 million allocation from the State Bond Commission in October. This funding will go towards purchasing new ballot-counting machines, marking the first statewide replacement since the elimination of lever voting machines 17 years ago. While the current machines are still operational, they are showing signs of aging, prompting the need for updated technology. The allocation will cover the purchase of several thousand traditional tabulators and dozens of high-speed tabulators. Read ArticleGeorgia Republicans’ election security ideas come with a cost | Mark Niesse/Atlanta Journal Constitution
Georgia election officials have informed Republican state legislators that proposed security enhancements, including eliminating ballot bar codes, adding verification technology, and upgrading voting machines, could be possible at an estimated cost of $32.5 million, but likely not before the 2024 election. This comes in response to demands for security improvements following a report by a computer science professor highlighting vulnerabilities in the voting system. The state Senate Ethics Committee plans to hold hearings on election security, while some senators are seeking answers regarding the decision not to upgrade Dominion Voting Systems software. Read Article
Michigan Democrats advance internet voting bill that worries security experts | Ben Orner/mlive.com
House Bill 4210, recently passed by the Michigan House of Representatives, expands electronic voting to include military spouses and dependents living overseas. Advocates assert that this enables military families to exercise their voting rights more conveniently. However, election security experts, including C.Jay Coles from Verified Voting, caution against the introduction of the internet into elections, emphasizing the potential risks. Coles warns that if the system is compromised, it could lead to a "crisis of confidence in our entire democracy" and open the door for large-scale manipulation of ballots and vote counts. Critics propose exploring alternatives such as expedited return of physical ballots or providing free postage for military spouses overseas to ensure their voting rights. The bill now awaits review in a Senate committee and the full Senate before potentially becoming law. Governor Gretchen Whitmer has expressed support for the bill. Read ArticleNevada’s exodus of election officials took with them 104 years of experience, says report | April Corbin Girnus/Nevada Current
Since the last presidential election, ten out of seventeen Nevada counties have seen a turnover in their top election officials, marking a higher rate of change than most other western states, according to a report by the political reform group Issue One. The turnover is attributed to a range of factors, including political pressure, threats, and burnout. Issue One is advocating for increased federal funding and protections to address the issue and strengthen the democratic process. Read ArticleNorth Carolina Governor vetoes bill that would take away his control over election boards | Gary D. Robertson/Associated Press
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, has vetoed Republican-backed legislation that seeks to shift the power to choose State Board of Elections members from the governor to legislative leaders. The proposed law comes at a critical juncture as the 2024 campaign cycle begins in the closely contested state. The bill, which would alter the current 3-2 party split on the board, is likely to face override votes in the coming month, with Republicans holding narrow veto-proof majorities in both chambers. The measure’s sponsors argue that an even split on the board would promote bipartisan consensus and bolster voter confidence in election outcomes. Critics, however, contend that the bill could lead to gridlock and potential reductions in early voting sites. Read ArticleNorth Dakota Petition seeks to ban early voting and voting machines | Kortney Lockey/KVLY
North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe has approved a petition format for a proposed constitutional measure regarding election processes. Supporters now have until September 27, 2024, to gather signatures for review. The measure, if passed, would bring several significant changes to North Dakota's electoral procedures. These include prohibiting early voting, mail-in voting (except for absentee ballots), ranked-choice and approval voting, as well as electronic ballot counting devices and voting machines. Additionally, the amendment would require hand-counting of ballots, allow citizens from any U.S. state to audit North Dakota elections, and mandate the public release of individual ballots on the Secretary of State's website for at least six years. Read Article