Wisconsin judge rules that GOP-controlled Senate’s vote to fire top elections official had no effect | Harm Venhuizen/Associated Press

A Dane County judge ruled that the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Senate’s vote to remove the state’s nonpartisan top elections official, Administrator Meagan Wolfe, last month was legally ineffective, and lawmakers are barred from ousting her during an ongoing lawsuit. Wolfe will continue to serve as the head of the Wisconsin Elections Commission while a decision is pending on whether elections commissioners are legally obligated to appoint someone for the Senate to confirm. This ruling comes after Senate Republicans voted in September to remove Wolfe, a move contested by Democrats and nonpartisan attorneys who argued that the Senate lacked the authority for such a vote at that time. The judge’s decision follows a change in stance by Republican legislative leaders, who now assert that their vote to fire Wolfe was merely symbolic and held no legal weight. Read Article

California: Voting Rights Advocates Ask Secretary of State To Monitor Shasta County’s Upcoming Elections | Annelise Pierce/Shasta Scout

Six nonprofit voting rights advocacy groups have formally requested California’s Secretary of State, Shirley Weber, to oversee and support the upcoming elections in Shasta County, California. They specifically ask for in-person monitoring during both the November 2023 and March 2024 elections. The coalition of advocacy organizations expressed serious concerns about the stability of Shasta County’s election system and highlighted misinformation and disinformation circulating in public meetings, potentially undermining voters’ confidence. They pointed out the diversion of time and resources from the Shasta County Elections Office staff due to extraordinary pressures, potentially endangering the smooth administration of upcoming elections and voters’ rights. The advocates called for Secretary Weber to provide necessary assistance to the county’s Registrar of Voters and to support voter education efforts in Shasta County. Read Article

Arizona: Previously hidden Cyber Ninjas texts revealed in records lawsuit over ‘audit’ | Robert Anglen and Ryan Randazzo/Arizona Republic

The CEO of Cyber Ninjas, Doug Logan, attempted to conceal more than 1,400 text messages which have now been decrypted, revealing communications between him and Michigan lawyer Stefanie Lambert regarding the Arizona Senate’s election “audit”. The messages discuss topics such as funding for the audit, voting machines, and concerns raised by then-Senate President Karen Fann about what information should be made public. Lambert criticized Fann’s preference for secrecy, highlighting the potential consequences for the audit effort. The messages also contain a link to a fundraising site, raising questions about the transparency of the funding process. Read Article

District of Columbia Board of Elections breach may include entire voter roll | Charlotte Nihill/CyberScoop

The breach of D.C. voter data may have been more extensive than initially thought, potentially encompassing the entire voter roll, according to a statement from the District of Columbia Board of Elections. Initially, it was believed that about 600,000 lines of data were affected, but it has now been revealed that the breached database included a copy of the full voter roll. The extent of the attacker’s access, including potentially sensitive information like social security numbers and driver’s license numbers, remains unclear. The board has engaged the cybersecurity firm Mandiant to investigate the incident, and it has pledged to release the results of the investigation and reach out to all registered voters affected. The board’s understanding and public disclosure of the breach have evolved since its discovery, initially indicating a limited impact, but now warning that the entire voting population of the city may be affected. Read Article

Pennsylvania: Turnover has plagued local election offices since 2020. Luzerne County is trying to recover | Christina A. Cassidy/Associated Press

The 2022 midterm elections in Pennsylvania’s Luzerne County were marred by an administrative oversight: a paper shortage at polling places due to a wrong order made years ago. This incident underscores the larger issue of a national crisis caused by an exodus of local election directors and staff following the 2020 presidential election, leading to institutional knowledge gaps and inexperience in crucial roles. This wave of retirements and resignations has created a vacuum, where even minor mistakes related to voting or ballot counting can be exploited by conspiracy theorists. In Luzerne County, the turnover has contributed to ongoing problems and increased voter doubt about elections, especially after persistent falsehoods regarding the 2020 presidential contest. The situation reflects a precarious spot for election integrity nationwide, with increased pressure on election officials and the need for effective training and support systems. Read Article

National: Russia working to undermine trust in elections globally, US intelligence says | AFP/The Guardian

According to a US intelligence report shared with around 100 countries, Russia is using its spy network, state-controlled media, and social media to erode public trust in elections worldwide. The report highlights that Russia conducted a concerted effort between 2020 and 2022 to undermine public confidence in at least 11 elections across nine democracies, including the United States. An additional 17 democracies were targeted through subtler methods involving Russian messaging and social media activity. The report asserts that Russia’s objective is to sow instability within democratic societies and depict democratic elections as dysfunctional, resulting in illegitimate governments. The US recognizes its own vulnerability to this threat, particularly evidenced in attempts to undermine confidence in the 2020 US election and Covid-19 pandemic response. Read Article

National: Alarms sound over high turnover among election workers | Julia Mueller/The Hill

Experts are warning of potential chaos and confusion in the November 2024 presidential election due to high turnover among local election officials and workers, largely driven by threats and scrutiny associated with false claims of voter fraud. This exodus could lead to understaffed and inexperienced teams grappling with ongoing conspiracies and misinformation, with some overseeing a high-stakes presidential election for the first time. Concerns are raised about the loss of experience, potential for mistakes, and increased suspicion around the electoral process, with experts highlighting the need for a committed and well-supported workforce in these roles. Additionally, the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology and deep-fake videos is seen as a potential source of false information in the upcoming election. Read Article

The Georgia vote machine theft is a threat to the 2024 election | Clif Albright, Richard DeMillo and Susan Greenhalgh/Slate

The article highlights a concerning multistate plot involving the theft of voting system software, which began in Coffee County, Georgia, and allegedly involves Trump allies. The stolen software was reportedly distributed across state lines and international borders, potentially enabling hackers and malicious actors to exploit vulnerabilities in future elections. The article emphasizes the lack of comprehensive investigation into the extent of this breach, particularly in Georgia, where officials downplay the security threats posed by the stolen software. The authors call for a federal investigation to address the serious threat posed to elections and national security. Read Article

National: The drive to hand count ballots is growing. The GOP could stop it. | Jessica Huseman/Votebeat

The movement to hand-count ballots, particularly championed by far-right groups, is causing significant issues, particularly in conservative areas. The push for manual vote tallies is leading to disenfranchisement in these regions due to the costly, labor-intensive nature of the practice. An example is Kerr County in Texas, where a Republican commissioner is leading the charge, resulting in disruptions and resignations among election administrators. Similar problems have emerged in Cochise County, Arizona, Nye County, Nevada, and Shasta County, California. Even fellow Republicans are reconsidering their support for hand counting, recognizing its problematic outcomes. Read Article

National: Republican states swore off a voting tool. Now they’re scrambling to recreate it | Miles Parks/NPR

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen has introduced the Alabama Voter Integrity Database (AVID), a program that aims to monitor voter movements, deaths, and potential illegal voting across states. Allen claims AVID is the first of its kind, but it appears to mirror the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a bipartisan, cross-state partnership for voter list maintenance. However, Allen, along with several other Republican secretaries of state, withdrew from ERIC earlier this year, citing conspiracy theories. This move has prompted a scattered effort on the right to recreate a system similar to ERIC, which experts and election officials doubt will be as effective. These new initiatives may lack the necessary data for reliable voter list comparison, and they are viewed as less likely to fully replicate ERIC, which was a carefully engineered and well-established system. The new agreements do not include sharing critical driver’s license data, which was a key component of ERIC’s accuracy and reliability. Read Article

National: Election Integrity in the Age of Generative AI: Fact vs. Fiction | Carl Smith/Governing

The rise of AI-generated content poses a new challenge in the fight against election misinformation. Election officials, already stretched thin, lack the resources and expertise to combat AI-generated disinformation effectively. While some states have taken steps to address this issue, the potential for AI to accelerate existing threats to election integrity is a concern. AI could be used to create misleading websites, generate robocalls, and produce deepfake videos, further undermining trust in the electoral process. The exponential growth in AI capabilities adds an extra layer of complexity, making it difficult to predict or mitigate potential threats. The need for robust strategies to counter AI-generated disinformation in elections is becoming increasingly urgent. Read Article

Opinion: Security and Reliability Concerns Around Internet Voting Outweigh Benefits | Jalisa Giles/Public Citizen

In the US, reputable federal entities that oversee cybersecurity and elections — including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Election Assistance Commission (EAC), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) — have made clear that internet voting cannot be conducted securely at this time, citing the risk of potential hacking, manipulation, and data breaches Read Article

Arizona: Hand count all ballots? It’s possible, but Cochise County ignored the rules, court says | Mary Jo Pitzl/Arizona Republic

The Arizona Court of Appeals has ruled that Cochise County supervisors and the county recorder lacked the authority to attempt a full hand count of all ballots cast in the 2022 general election. The three-judge panel affirmed a previous decision by a Pima County Superior Court judge, stating that the county did not follow the proper procedures outlined in state law, which mandates a gradual, multi-step process before a jurisdiction-wide hand-count audit can occur. The ruling could impact the county’s plans to hand count future elections, including the upcoming presidential race next year. The case was brought by the Arizona Alliance of Retired Americans and a Cochise County resident, and while the court rejected their request for the county to cover their attorney fees, it did order the county to cover their court costs. Read Article

Arizona: Federal appeals court tosses Kari Lake’s suit vs. voting machines | Howard Fischer/Tucson Daily Star

A federal appeals court has dismissed the claims of 2022 election candidates, Kari Lake and Mark Finchem, who contended that the voting machines used in Arizona were inherently unreliable, violating their constitutional rights. The court stated that Lake and Finchem failed to present any evidence of past hacking of the machines and only raised concerns about potential future hacking. Additionally, the candidates initially sought to bar the use of tabulation machines in the 2022 election, which is now concluded, weakening their argument. Their broader claim that electronic tabulation systems denied them a “fundamental right” to vote was deemed insufficient for a constitutional challenge in federal court. The court also highlighted the safeguards in place for the tabulation system, including certification, pre-election tests, and post-election hand recounts. Read Article

Arizona’s mail ballot signature verification process is being challenged. So I tested it out. | Jen Fifield/Votebeat Arizona

The signature verification process for mail-in ballots in Arizona, and most states, has come under scrutiny amid claims of potential fraud and voter disenfranchisement. The system involves comparing the voter affidavit signature on the ballot envelope with past examples of the voter’s signature in county records. Critics argue that it’s an imprecise and subjective process. GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake has raised concerns about the speed at which signatures are reviewed, while ongoing lawsuits challenge what voter records can be used for comparison. Some suggest alternative methods, such as using identification numbers, but voting rights groups caution against potential barriers to voting. Georgia’s switch to ID verification led to an increase in rejected ballots, highlighting the complexities of finding a secure and accessible system. Read Article

Georgia: Trump co-defendant Sidney Powell pleads guilty in Georgia election interference case | Holly Bailey and Amy Gardner/The Washington Post

Sidney Powell, a former member of Donald Trump’s legal team, pleaded guilty to six misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to commit intentional interference with the performance of election duties related to her involvement in a secretive effort to access and copy election software in rural Coffee County, Georgia. Powell was sentenced to six years’ probation, a $6,000 fine, and $2,700 in restitution to the state of Georgia. She also agreed to testify truthfully in her co-defendants’ trials. This development could have significant implications for Trump, as Powell is an unnamed co-conspirator in the federal case against him. Powell was a key Trump adviser in the weeks following the 2020 election, and her actions regarding Coffee County raise questions about how high up in the Trump campaign her actions were known and whether she will implicate co-defendants like Rudy Giuliani or Trump himself when she testifies. Read Article

Kansas: Election denialists have a new strategy for spreading voting conspiracy theories. They’re hitting the road. | Molly Olmstead/Slate

In Kansas, an invite-only event at the state legislature recently hosted speakers promoting QAnon conspiracy theories, lobbyists from conservative “dark money” groups, and individuals advocating for covert actions to uncover election crimes. These speakers presented baseless ideas about foreign meddling, rigged results, and Democrat wrongdoing, mirroring the narratives that fueled the January 6 Capitol riot. Notably, the event excluded actual election administrators and legitimate voting rights groups, demonstrating the entrenched nature of election fraud conspiracy theories in the U.S. since 2020. Despite a decrease in overall energy around these theories, a vocal minority persists, with some legislators entertaining their ideas and even introducing related bills in various states. Read Article

New Louisiana secretary of state will face task of replacing voting machines | Louisiana | Victor Skinner/The Center Square

Republican Nancy Landry, a three-term state representative and first assistant secretary of state since 2019, and Democratic Baton Rouge attorney Gwen Collins-Greenup, who’s making her third attempt at the position, will face off in a Nov. 18 runoff for the Louisiana secretary of state. Both candidates collected roughly 19.3% of the vote in the recent primary. The winner will oversee the transition to new voting machines mandated by law, aiming to address election security concerns stemming from the 2020 presidential election. Landry emphasizes the need for updated technology, focusing on a system with both efficiency and auditable paper trails, while Collins-Greenup agrees on the importance of machines with paper backups for auditability and security. Read Article

Michigan Attorney General drops charges against fake GOP elector after he agrees to cooperate | Marshall Cohen/CNN

James Renner, one of the pro-Donald Trump fake electors charged in Michigan, has agreed to cooperate with state prosecutors in exchange for having his case dismissed. Renner is the first defendant to strike such a deal, and it’s a significant development in the case. As part of the agreement, Renner will provide complete and truthful testimony whenever called upon by prosecutors, including describing the events in the room where the sham certificate was signed in December 2020. The fake GOP electors attempted to subvert the Electoral College process in 2020 by signing illegitimate certificates falsely claiming Trump won the presidential election in Michigan. The remaining 15 defendants, including current and former state GOP officials, have pleaded not guilty. Read Article

Ohio: Boards of elections use different approaches, similar voting equipment | Roger LaPointe/Fremont News-Messenger

Sandusky and Ottawa counties have different approaches to election equipment, but both emphasize the importance of their election board members in ensuring secure and accurate voting. Sandusky County, a smaller rural county, prefers paper ballots and uses a combination of hand-marked paper ballots and ballot marking devices with optical scanning for mailed ballots. They have a ballot marking device available for disabled individuals but mostly rely on paper ballots. Ottawa County, with approximately 30,000 registered voters, employs a hybrid system using both tabletop and kiosk-type ExpressVote units for ballot marking. They use a commercial electronic poll book for tabulation, ensuring security and privacy in the voting process. Both counties highlight the dedication and collaboration of their bipartisan election boards as a key factor in maintaining trust in the electoral process. Read Article

Pennsylvania elections chief urges counties to send replacement ballots to fix errors; Lancaster County officials stand by decision not to do that | Jaxon White/Lancaster Online

Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt urged county election officials to take all necessary steps to rectify mistakes made in mail-in ballots for the upcoming November municipal election. This statement came in response to ballot errors reported in several counties, including an erroneous set of instructions sent to 24,000 mail-in voters in Lancaster County. Although Lancaster County decided not to send replacement ballots, they allowed affected voters to receive new ones if they visit the county building, provide proper ID, and an elections worker verifies the ballot contains an error related to the instructions. The initial error advised voters to place the completed ballot in a white secrecy envelope instead of the actual yellow one. Chairman John Trescot assured that steps were taken to correct the issue and emphasized that such errors are not deliberate attempts to alter election outcomes. Read Article

Texas secretary of state releases Harris County 2022 election audit | Jess Huff/The Texas Tribune

A preliminary report from the Texas Secretary of State’s office highlights “multiple failures” in Harris County’s 2022 election administration, though it does not suggest any race outcomes were affected. The audit identified issues such as insufficient paper ballots at voting centers, discrepancies in voter registration records, and 3,600 unreported mail ballots. It also noted inadequate training for election workers. The report aims to address these problems before the 2024 election cycle. Harris County, the third most populous in the U.S., has faced legal challenges over its handling of the 2022 election, leading to legislative changes in election administration. Read Article

Wisconsin: Few Republicans have confidence in elections. It’s a long road for one group trying to change that | Christine Fernando/Associated Press

Election officials in rural Wisconsin counties like Oconto are grappling with the spread of election conspiracy theories, driven in part by false claims of a stolen election by former President Trump. Kim Pytleski, a lifelong Republican and clerk in Oconto County, has encountered skepticism about the election process, even facing the label of “Republican in Name Only” for defending it. Efforts to combat misinformation include community events and conversations, with groups like Keep Our Republic holding town hall-style forums to restore faith in elections. However, the deep partisan divide and persistent spread of false claims present significant challenges in restoring trust in the electoral process. Read Article

Opinion: Where an Obsession With Election Integrity Can Lead – Counting Ballots by Hand Is a Bad Idea | Jessica Huseman/The New York Times

There’s a growing right-wing movement advocating for manual vote tallies without the use of machines, a practice that is rare in the U.S. This approach, however, is shown to be problematic due to the complexity and volume of choices in American ballots, making manual counting error-prone. While some advocates for hand counting have caused disruptions in predominantly conservative areas, it’s crucial to acknowledge that this method risks disenfranchising voters and could undermine the integrity of elections. Despite this, the Republican Party has been notably silent on the issue, missing an opportunity to address the potential harm to election systems in red counties. The move towards hand counting, if implemented, could lead to financial strain, disrupt long-term contracts with voting machine companies, and create logistical challenges for election administrators. Read Article

A government shutdown could still happen, with consequences for elections. | Carrie Levine/Votebeat

The looming possibility of a federal government shutdown could have significant consequences for the planning and security of the 2024 elections in the United States. Election officials are already preparing for the upcoming elections, and any disruption due to a government shutdown could lead to delays in critical security assessments for local election offices, potentially impacting their ability to implement necessary physical improvements. This concern is particularly pertinent given the ongoing threats and challenges in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential elections. It’s crucial that federal officials are able to provide support and intelligence on cybersecurity, physical security, and disinformation efforts to aid state and local election officials in safeguarding the democratic process. The potential shutdown also adds another layer of uncertainty for election officials who are already contending with unprecedented threats. Read Article

National: Artificial Intelligence and Election Security | Lawrence Norden and Gowri Ramachandran/Brennan Center for Justice

Within the elections community, many officials have expressed grave concerns about what generative AI might mean for election security. That sentiment aligns with recent media discourse highlighting the dangers posed by AI. An illustrative May 2023 article in the Washington Post described an increase in phishing attacks attributed to AI, noting that such attacks are “just the beginning . . . as attackers use artificial intelligence to write software that can break into . . . networks in novel ways, change appearance and functionality to beat detection, and smuggle data back out through processes that appear normal.” Read Report

National: Amazon’s Alexa has been claiming the 2020 election was stolen | Cat Zakrzewski/The Washington Post

Amazon’s voice assistant, Alexa, has been found disseminating misinformation about the 2020 presidential election, falsely claiming it was stolen. When asked about fraud in the election, Alexa cited unvetted sources, including Rumble and Substack, and stated that there were “many incidents of irregularities and indications pointing to electoral fraud.” Multiple investigations have found no evidence of widespread fraud, but the misinformation from Alexa raises concerns about the spread of false narratives through AI systems. Amazon has not provided an explanation for why Alexa’s responses drew from unverified sources, but has stated that such errors were delivered a small number of times and were quickly rectified when brought to their attention. The incident highlights the potential for AI-driven systems to amplify falsehoods and biases present in their sources. Read Article

National: ‘Alive and well’: Election deniers linger in statewide, presidential elections | Savannah Kuchar/USA Today

Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican, acknowledges the impact of conspiracy theories on election officials and workers in 2020 but believes that concerns over misinformation are diminishing, as the economy and other issues take precedence for most voters. However, research by States United Action suggests that election denial has become an entrenched element of American politics, with candidates who supported baseless voter fraud claims in 2022 now running again in 2024. These candidates, including Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, continue to perpetuate the false narrative, and while there are hopes that the narrative will fade, its long-term impact remains uncertain. Schwab also highlights the challenges in recruiting and retaining poll workers due to threats and intimidation they faced during the 2020 election. Read Article

National: ‘A.I. Obama’ and Fake Newscasters: How A.I. Audio Is Swarming TikTok | Stuart A. Thompson and Sapna Maheshwari/The New York Times

Advanced artificial intelligence tools that can clone real voices with remarkable accuracy have been used to create fake audio, amplifying the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories. These AI-generated voices are becoming a potent weapon in the online misinformation landscape, potentially accelerating political disinformation ahead of the 2024 elections. The manipulated audio complements the challenges posed by “deepfake” videos, ChatGPT-generated human-like writing, and image synthesis tools. TikTok and other platforms are working to detect and label AI-generated media, but staying ahead of this technology remains a challenge. Read Article

Opinion: Ahead of 2024, we must protect election workers nationwide. Our democracy depends on it.   | Kathy Boockvar/The Hill

Every week, we continue to see news about the 2020 election and the shocking, seditious efforts to tear down our democracy that followed. Federal and state criminal indictments for conspiracies to overturn the election. Sentencing of extremist leaders of the Jan. 6 riots. Rudy Giuliani’s liability for defamation and infliction of emotional distress against two Georgia election workers.  Accountability for these past actions is critically important. But as these stories dominate the news cycle again and again, it is important not to lose sight of one of the unconscionable continuing consequences — the increase in hostility toward our nation’s election officials, and the impact it has on our democracy. Read More