New Jersey county clerks forge ahead with new ballot design | Colleen O’Dea/NJ Spotlight News

New Jersey Democratic primary voters will see ballots that look very different from what they are used to and also different from the ones Republican voters will see. County clerks are designing ballots for the June election to comply with the recent federal court ruling that ends the state’s unique “county-line” balloting, though only for the Democratic primary. Clerks have been working with vendors Dominion Voting Systems and Election Systems & Software to design the new ballots and meet the April 20 deadline for sending out mail-in ballots. Some clerks have already completed their work and displayed the new designs during their drawings last Thursday for where to place candidates on the ballot. Read Article

National: China’s Advancing Efforts to Influence the U.S. Election Raise Alarms | Tiffany Hsu and Steven Lee Myers/The New York Times

Covert Chinese accounts are posing as American supporters of former President Donald J. Trump, engaging in online activities to promote conspiracy theories, exacerbate domestic divisions, and attack President Biden ahead of the upcoming November election, according to researchers and government officials. This strategy marks a potential shift in China’s approach to influencing American politics, aiming to exploit partisan divides and undermine the Biden administration’s policies. Researchers have identified a network of accounts associated with the Chinese government, which have been posting content in English to attract genuine engagement, presenting a more subtle and sophisticated approach compared to previous efforts. Read Article

National: Election workers face thousands of threats – so why so few prosecutions? | Ed Pilkington/The Guardian

James Clark’s intoxicated decision to send a bomb threat to Arizona’s top election official in the midst of online debate surrounding Donald Trump’s false election claims sparked panic and led to the establishment of the election threats taskforce by the US Department of Justice. As threats against election officials surged post-Trump’s election lie, the taskforce aims to protect these officials from violence and intimidation, focusing on criminal prosecutions while navigating legal complexities. Despite challenges in identifying and prosecuting perpetrators, the taskforce seeks to deter threats and improve coordination with local authorities, especially as the November elections approach amidst continued election denial. Read Article

National: States move to shore up voting rights protections after courts erode federal safeguards | Steve Karnowski/Associated Press

In response to an appeals court ruling restricted lawsuits under Section 2 of the federal Voting Rights Act, several states are moving to enact state-level protections to address gaps left by the decision, as national legislation remains stalled in Congress. Democratic-led states like Minnesota, Michigan, Maryland, New Jersey, and Florida are pursuing their own voting rights acts, following the examples of New York and Connecticut. These state acts aim to counter efforts by Republican lawmakers to erode safeguards under the guise of protecting election integrity, particularly amid former President Trump’s false claims of voter fraud. Read Article

National: AI is creating ‘more sophisticated’ but not unprecedented election threats, DHS official says | Edward Graham/Nextgov/FCW

Artificial intelligence tools are exacerbating cyber threats to election systems and personnel and helping to spread more sophisticated misinformation about the voting process but are not yet presenting novel risks to election infrastructure, according to a top Department of Homeland Security official. Speaking at an event at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, Iranga Kahangama — assistant secretary for cyber, infrastructure, risk and resilience at DHS — said AI will lead to “some more sophisticated, more precise attempts” by nefarious actors to interfere with future elections, but added that officials “see artificial intelligence in the election space as not necessarily introducing a new threat or risk in and of itself.” Read Article

National: Chinese hackers turn to AI to meddle in elections | Derek B. Johnson/CyberScoop

Chinese government-linked hacking groups are increasingly using deepfakes and other AI-generated content to interfere in foreign elections, according to new research from Microsoft. While traditional methods like fake social media accounts are still utilized, China is exploring newer tools like AI-generated imagery to spread disinformation. Microsoft observed Chinese disinformation actors employing AI-manipulated images to fuel conspiracy theories in the United States, notably targeting incidents like a train derailment in Kentucky and wildfires in Maui. Read Article

National: ‘Grave step backwards’: Meta shuts monitoring tool in election year | Anuj Chopra and Arthur MacMillan/AFP

Meta, Facebook’s parent company, plans to decommission CrowdTangle, a crucial digital tool for tracking viral misinformation, just months before the US election, leaving researchers concerned about the potential disruption in efforts to combat political falsehoods. CrowdTangle has provided real-time transparency into the spread of misinformation on Meta-owned platforms like Facebook and Instagram, but Meta’s decision to replace it with a new tool, the Content Library, is seen as lacking in functionality and transparency. The move is viewed as a step backward in social media platform transparency, especially during a year with numerous elections globally. Read Article

Arkansas Supreme Court affirms circuit court decision in voting machine lawsuit | Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate

The Arkansas Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit challenging the compliance of voting machines with state law, which was filed by Arkansas Voter Integrity Initiative Inc. and CEO Conrad Reynolds against Secretary of State John Thurston, the State Board of Election Commissioners, and Election Systems and Software LLC. The lawsuit argued that voters couldn’t verify their selections because they couldn’t read the barcodes on printed ballots, which the voting machine tabulator scanned. However, the court affirmed the lower court’s decision, citing testimony that voters could review and change their votes on the machine before printing their ballots. Meanwhile, Reynolds continues to challenge voting machines through another lawsuit aiming to certify two proposed constitutional amendments regarding voting methods. Read Article

California: Advocates for blind people sue over mail voting rules | Bob Egelko/San Francisco Chronicle

Advocates for blind and other disabled voters in California are urging federal courts to intervene, arguing that the state’s current mail-in ballot rules force them to rely on others to cast their votes, violating their right to privacy and independence. They are seeking permission for those with print disabilities to return their ballots using fax machines or electronic equipment, citing the need for accessible alternatives like those provided in 13 other states. Currently, visually impaired voters can use electronic devices to fill out their ballots, but they must then print and deliver them, compromising the secrecy of their votes. Read Article

Georgia judge rejects Trump bid to dismiss election interference charges on free speech grounds | Dareh Gregorian/NBC

A Georgia judge rejected a motion by former President Donald Trump and his co-defendants to dismiss charges in the state’s election interference case based on First Amendment arguments. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee ruled that their right to protest the 2020 election results did not shield them from the charges brought by District Attorney Fani Willis’s office. McAfee emphasized that the alleged conduct, including false statements and attempts to overturn election results, went beyond political speech and activity. Trump’s lawyer indicated they would continue to assess their legal options despite the ruling. Read Article

Kansas GOP lawmakers revive a plan to stop giving voters 3 extra days to return mail ballots | John Hanna/Associated Press

Republican legislators in Kansas are reviving a proposal to eliminate the three-day grace period for returning mail ballots, making concessions to win over rural GOP lawmakers and potentially override a Democratic governor’s veto. Despite no evidence of fraud, Republicans argue that allowing ballots to be counted after Election Day undermines confidence in the results. The latest version of the proposal includes delaying the elimination of the grace period until 2025, adding two extra days for advance voting, and requiring county offices to be open for advance, in-person voting on the Saturday before an election. Read Article

Nebraska lawmakers overwhelmingly reject Trump-backed ‘winner-take-all’ electoral system | Nick Robertson/The Hill

An attempt to change Nebraska to a “winner-take-all” Electoral College system failed a key procedural vote late Wednesday, despite support by former President Trump, Gov. Jim Pillen and Sen. Pete Ricketts. Switching Nebraska’s Electoral College vote distribution in the Republican-dominated state would bring it in line with much of the rest of the country and could net Trump an extra vote this November, though an attempt to attach the bill to an unrelated measure as an amendment Wednesday failed by a significant margin. State Sen. Julie Slama led the amendment push, arguing on the floor that it was the best shot for the bill to pass this legislative session, which ends April 18. Just eight of the needed 23 legislators backed the vote. Read Article

New Hampshire Secretary of State now backs using fed surplus to support replacing aging voting machines | Kevin Landrigan/New Hampshire Union Leader

New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan expressed support for using surplus funds from a federal election account to assist cities and towns in replacing aging voting machines, marking a departure from his previous reluctance. Scanlan advocated against a House-passed bill that would establish a $3 million matching grant program, citing concerns about potential strings attached to federal grants. The move comes as New Hampshire faces challenges with its current voting machines, with officials scrambling to find replacement parts. Scanlan emphasized the need for flexibility in the program to address diverse community needs, proposing support for items like E-polling books and tablets. Read Article

New Jersey county clerks drop appeal of order barring use of county-line ballots | Nikita Biryukov/New Jersey Monitor

New Jersey county clerks have withdrawn from the appeal of a court order banning the use of the county line in June’s Democratic primaries, following a federal appeals court’s decision not to block the lower court’s order. While the appeal will proceed with the Camden County Democratic Committee still challenging the order, clerks’ withdrawals were praised by progressive activists who argue that the county line unfairly benefits certain candidates. The appeal centers on a preliminary injunction barring the use of county-line ballots, which was issued after a lawsuit by Rep. Andy Kim and other plaintiffs alleged constitutional violations. Read Article

North Carolina lawsuits challenging same-day registration change can proceed, judge says | Gary D. Robertson/Associated Press

Two lawsuits challenging North Carolina’s tightened same-day voter registration regulations can proceed, despite recent adjustments by state election officials to address a judge’s constitutional concerns. U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder declined to dismiss the suits, rejecting motions from defendants including Republican legislative leaders and the State Board of Elections. The lawsuits target a 2023 law altering the criteria for disqualifying votes cast by same-day registrants during the early voting period. The changes, affecting over 100,000 new registrants during recent presidential elections, include a provision requiring only one piece of undeliverable mail for removal from voter rolls instead of two, which critics argue heightens the risk of disenfranchisement due to paperwork errors or mail issues. Read Article

South Dakota: Misinfo spawns attempts to ban electronic voting | Renee Ortiz/KELO

Petitions advocating for the option to hand-count ballots in South Dakota counties are circulating, yet many commissions, including the McPherson County Commission, are opting not to put the question on the ballot due to legal constraints. Despite concerns raised by some residents about the use of electronic tabulation devices, state and federal laws mandate their use to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities and to provide accurate and timely election results. Officials highlight the existing safeguards in place, such as post-election audits and the absence of internet connectivity in tabulating machines, to ensure the security and integrity of elections in South Dakota. Read Article

Texas: Tarrant County approves use of pre-numbered ballots. Do they prevent voter fraud? | Cody Copeland/Fort Worth Star-Telegram

The Tarrant County Election Board approved the use of pre-numbered ballots for the upcoming general election, aiming to enhance election security and facilitate auditing in case of voter fraud inquiries. However, experts argue that this practice could potentially enable voter fraud rather than prevent it, as it deviates from the longstanding principle of the secret ballot. Despite claims that pre-numbered ballots would bolster election integrity, concerns arise regarding the risks associated with tying votes to specific numbers, potentially enabling vote buying or coercion. The initiative, approved with one vote against it, raises questions about its necessity, especially considering the absence of significant voter fraud incidents in recent elections. Read Article

Texas counties face surcharge to aid voter registration software vendor | Natalia Contreras/Votebeat

A vendor of voter registration management software is asking Texas counties that use its services to pay tens of thousands of dollars in surcharges to help the company stay afloat, or scramble for alternative ways to deal with sensitive voter information in a presidential election year. The request has election administrators in some of the state’s largest counties consulting with county attorneys about their legal options. Others are trying to find the money to pay, worried about the stability of the vendor, California-based Votec Corp. Election officials have few other options to store and manage the voter registration data of millions of voters across the state only months ahead of the May runoff election and November’s presidential election. Read Article

Washington laws aim to detect cyber attacks and protect election workers  | Jerry Cornfield/News From The States

Washington state is implementing new laws to safeguard election workers and enhance the security of ballot counting ahead of the 2024 campaign season. One law increases penalties for harassing election officials, while another mandates certain security measures on election equipment and allows the Secretary of State to certify results in specific situations. A third law aims to reduce rejected ballots by improving voter signature protections and standardizing ballot return envelope designs. Read Article

Wisconsin referendums passed; what’s next and what don’t we know yet? | Hope Karnopp/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Wisconsin voters have approved two statewide referendums, one prohibiting the use of private grants or donations to administer elections, and the other restricting election-related tasks to officials designated by law. Despite the majority vote, potential ambiguity, especially in the second question, raises concerns about possible lawsuits. Rick Esenberg of the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty stated they would only sue if private parties sought to fund election administration, though the firm has challenged election laws before. Stemming from Republican scrutiny of “Zuckerbucks,” the referendums address concerns over grants funding election activities, with opponents worried about the language’s vagueness. Implementation timelines and potential legal challenges remain uncertain, including whether donations from individuals are also banned and the scope of tasks designated for election officials. Read Article