Warren Stewart – Page 56 – The Voting News

Jay Schneider, overseeing his polling place in Caln Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, on his first Election Day as a judge of elections, faced initial challenges with staffing and coordination. Despite a rocky start, Schneider, who transitioned from a poll worker role, managed the precinct efficiently, addressing issues, adapting to higher-than-expected voter turnout, and collaborating with support from the county’s emergency operations center and additional poll workers. While acknowledging the stress and learning curve, Schneider expressed satisfaction in contributing to the election process and helping voters cast their ballots, emphasizing the importance of refining operations for the upcoming 2024 presidential election. Read Article

A former Utah county clerk is accused of shredding and mishandling 2020 and 2022 ballots | Mead Gruver/Associated Press

Former Juab County Clerk/Auditor Alaina Lofgran in Utah is facing charges for allegedly mishandling and shredding ballots from both the 2020 and 2022 elections, involving approximately 5,000 voters. It is alleged that she violated the law by allowing ballots to be shredded after the 2022 election when they should have been preserved for at least 22 months for potential recounts. Additionally, Lofgran is accused of improperly storing 2020 election ballots in an accessible basement storage room, contrary to state law which mandates secure storage. The charges include three felonies and other counts related to the neglect of duty, destruction of ballots, and misconduct. The allegations do not imply a political motive, but rather a violation of election law. Read Article

Virginia county stumbles in the first election after its conspiracy-fueled staff exodus | Jane C. Timm/NBC

Buckingham County was the last Virginia locality to post unofficial tallies Wednesday morning, causing concern and frustration among voters and cndidates. The delay was attributed to difficulties in inputting results, according to a spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Elections. Earlier this year, baseless allegations of voter fraud led to the resignation of four election staff members and the hiring and subsequent firing of a replacement registrar, with Ginger Chiesa eventually taking over and working to restore confidence in the voting process. Despite smooth voting operations, the delay in reporting results left some feeling disheartened and concerned about potential controversy. “Of course I’m happy with it,” commented Paul Garrett, a candidate for the county Board of Supervisors. “But in the midst of all this stuff that’s going on now, it’s going to be another hotbed for controversy.” Read Article

Wisconsin Governor to sign amended bill that will allow clerks to begin processing ballots a day early | Hope Karnopp/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Governor Tony Evers is expected to sign a bill allowing clerks in Wisconsin to begin processing absentee ballots a day early, following bipartisan support in the Republican-controlled Assembly. The legislation aims to address concerns about late processing leading to voter confusion and conspiracy theories. The bill, which mandates Monday processing for central count communities (those processing all absentee ballots in one location), also includes provisions for clerks to periodically report ballot counts and for circuit courts to promptly inform the Wisconsin Elections Commission about voters deemed ineligible. Some proposed amendments, such as prohibiting early running of ballots through voting equipment, were removed in favor of increased efficiency, according to clerks. Read Article

California: Shasta County ditched its Dominion voting machines. Now, residents are braced for turmoil on Nov. 7 | Jessica Garrison and Hailey Branson-Potts/Los Angeles Times

Shasta County, with a predominantly Republican population, is on edge as it nears its local election, with concerns of potential unrest or violence. The Board of Supervisors, leaning far-right, aimed to hand-count ballots after unproven voter fraud claims, but Governor Newsom intervened and signed a law limiting counties from doing so. The county registrar, Cathy Darling Allen, plans to follow state law and use newly purchased machines, which has sparked outrage among residents subscribing to election fraud conspiracy theories. This situation is emblematic of the larger trend of election officials facing threats and intimidation across the country. The standoff in Shasta is closely watched as a precursor to the 2024 elections, and experts express concern over the escalating rhetoric and division in modern American democracy. Read Article

Guilty pleas stack up in Georgia, but lies continue to reverberate | Carrie Levine/Votebeat

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is investigating Cochise County supervisors Tom Crosby and Peggy Judd, both Republicans, for their refusal to certify the county’s midterm election results within the state-required deadline. The subpoenas, issued by Mayes’ office, do not specify the criminal violations being investigated. The two supervisors had initially voted to postpone the certification, citing unfounded claims about ballot tabulation machines, and also attempted to implement a full hand count of all ballots, both of which were deemed illegal. Mayes’ probe aims to deter similar disruptions in future elections, potentially setting a precedent for holding officials accountable for their duties in accordance with state law. Read Article

National: State and local election workers quitting amid abuse, officials tell U.S. Senate panel | Jacob Fischler/Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Election officials from several states testified at a U.S. Senate committee hearing about the increasing threats and intimidation they face, which have led experienced workers to leave the profession. Conspiracy theories and misinformation have fueled a hostile environment for election workers, prompting many to quit, creating challenges for the inexperienced new leaders. This situation has worsened since 2020, with officials in Arizona and Pennsylvania reporting significant resignations. The hostile environment has made it difficult to retain experienced poll workers and recruit and train new ones, presenting a major challenge in running elections. The panel emphasized the bipartisan nature of the issue and the need for continued federal funding to address it. Read Article

National: Republicans claw back control of elections in key states | Zach Montellaro/Politico

Republican officials in key battleground states are focusing on asserting more control over the election process, particularly targeting offices and agencies responsible for overseeing elections. Efforts include attempts to oust Wisconsin’s elections chief over baseless 2020 election conspiracies, restructuring election boards in North Carolina that could lead to stalemates on key issues like early voting, and dismantling the election office in Texas’ largest county. These moves, seen as part of a broader trend, have raised concerns about the potential impact on public confidence in the electoral system and may disrupt preparations for the 2024 elections. Read Article

National: White House 2024: AI Threatens To ‘Supercharge’ Disinformation | Anuj Chopra/AFP

The upcoming 2024 White House race is expected to be heavily influenced by advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools, presenting both opportunities and challenges. AI programs can now generate realistic images, videos, and text impersonating political figures, potentially confusing voters and eroding trust in the electoral process. Campaigns are also utilizing AI for tasks like voter database analysis and fundraising emails. However, this technology’s potential for disinformation campaigns is concerning, with AI-generated content being used to distort the truth and smear opponents. A recent poll indicates that over 50% of Americans believe AI-enabled falsehoods will impact the outcome of the 2024 election, and around one-third will be less trusting of the results due to AI-generated content. While AI provides new tools for understanding voters and trends, there’s a growing need for regulations and standards to curb its potential for misuse in political campaigns. Read Article

Arizona: Cochise County officials who refused to certify election now under investigation by attorney general | Jen Fifield/Votebeat

California: Shasta County voting machines: An accusation of ‘staged chaos’ rings out at tense meeting | David Benda/Redding Record Searchlight

The Shasta County Board of Supervisors in California is grappling with internal divisions and controversies surrounding election procedures, particularly in the wake of a decision to switch from Dominion Voting Systems to Hart InterCivic. Board Chair Patrick Jones, along with two other supervisors, had advocated for hand-counted ballots, leading to tension and allegations of misinformation. Critics argue that the board majority’s focus on issues like Second Amendment rights, COVID-19 mandates, and election security is causing unnecessary discord and diverting attention from more pressing matters like the homeless crisis, crime, and jail capacity. The situation reflects a broader trend of political polarization and controversial local decision-making. Read Article

Connecticut city’s ‘mishandled ballots’ fuel election skeptics. Experts call problem local, limited | Susan Haigh/The Washington Post

A judge’s decision to order a new primary in Bridgeport, Connecticut, due to mishandling of absentee ballots has raised concerns about the security of U.S. elections and fueled conspiracy theories related to the 2020 presidential election. However, election experts emphasize that the situation in Bridgeport is unique and not indicative of widespread issues. An Associated Press review found fewer than 475 potential cases of voter fraud in the six contested states from the 2020 election, a number that wouldn’t have affected the outcome. The Bridgeport case involves “ballot harvesting,” which is prohibited in Connecticut but allowed in some other states. The judge’s ruling creates a complex scenario with Bridgeport voters participating in both a mayoral election and a potential new Democratic primary. Read Article

District of Columbia Board of Election Data Breach Leaked the Entire Voter Roll, Including personal identifiable information | Alicia Hope/CPO Magazine

The District of Columbia Board of Elections (DCBOE) confirmed a data breach, revealing that the entire voter roll was exposed. The breach, attributed to a Russian ransomware group called RansomedVC, was discovered on October 6. DCBOE determined that the hackers compromised a server operated by hosting provider DataNet Systems, but internal databases or systems were not affected. The exposed information includes names, addresses, voting records, and political party affiliations, which are public records unless specifically protected. While the exact number of affected records is unknown, initial assessments suggested fewer than 4,000 voters were impacted. DCBOE has engaged with federal agencies and cybersecurity experts to investigate the incident and secure voter data and systems. The breach did not impact the voter registration process, which remains operational as the affected website is being restored. Read Article

Georgia senators grill election officials on voting security | Mark Niesse/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia senators are demanding answers about election security, questioning why the state’s voting system won’t be upgraded until after the 2024 elections and criticizing Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. They suggested quicker software updates, an elimination of QR codes on Georgia ballots, security markings on every ballot, and the introduction of paper ballots filled out by hand instead of by voting touchscreens. State election officials responded that Georgia’s election technology is secure from tampering as they test equipment ahead of next year’s elections and plan audits afterward. Read Article

Idaho: A Canyon County voting machine accepted a photocopied ballot, but officials aren’t worried – here’s why | Erin Banks Rusby/Idaho Press

In preparation for the upcoming election, Canyon County conducts a “logic and accuracy” test to verify the proper functioning of ballot scanners. During a recent test, a member of the public suggested running photocopied ballots through the machine, which surprisingly were accepted. This raised concerns about the security of the voting process. Secretary of State Phil McGrane clarified that only two counties in Idaho use unique identifiers on ballots, and others like Canyon County have alternative safeguards to prevent duplicate submissions. County officials emphasized the multiple layers of security in place, including the scrutiny of poll workers, making it highly unlikely for a voter to submit duplicated ballots. While unique identifiers offer traceability, concerns about voter privacy and secure ballots come into play. Further discussions with election officials and voting equipment providers are planned to address any potential gaps in the system. Read Article

Michigan House advances protections for poll workers, restrictions on AI in political ads | Kyle Davidson/Michigan Advance

The Michigan House of Representatives passed bills aimed at safeguarding elections and election officials. House Bills 4129 and 4130 establish penalties for intimidating or obstructing election officials in the performance of their duties. Violations would range from misdemeanors with fines and imprisonment to felony charges. The legislation defines election officials and specifies what constitutes intimidation. The House also approved bipartisan bills requiring disclaimers on political ads that use artificial intelligence, with penalties for deceptive practices. The bills will move to the Senate Committee on Elections and Ethics for further consideration. These measures come in response to threats and intimidation faced by election workers, with 1 in 3 officials having experienced such incidents, according to a survey by the Brennan Center for Justice. Read Article

Ohio: Misinformation is flowing ahead of abortion vote. Some is coming from a legislative website. | Julie Carr Smyth and Christine Fernando/Associated Press

The official government website of the Republican-controlled Ohio Senate is featuring inflammatory language opposing a reproductive rights measure, which is typically seen in contentious campaign initiatives. The messaging, warning of extreme scenarios related to the measure, is not only promoted by anti-abortion groups but is also present on the government website. This content, published on the “On The Record” blog, is impacting online search results for information about the reproductive rights measure, Issue 1, which is set to be voted on by Ohio citizens on November 7. The blog is presented as an “online newsroom” providing perspectives not covered by mainstream news outlets, and includes content from Republican state senators and conservative figures. Experts consider this effort by Republican lawmakers to be unprecedented, as it aims to influence public perception through a government platform, potentially misguiding voters seeking objective information. Read Article

Pennsylvanians Are About to Decide Who Will Oversee the 2024 Elections | Daniel Nichanian/Bolts

The upcoming Nov. 7 elections in Pennsylvania’s counties, particularly Bucks County, hold significant implications for voting accessibility. Since county officials in Pennsylvania have broad authority over election procedures, including mail-in voting protocols, the outcomes will determine policies like ballot curing (allowing voters to correct minor mistakes on mail ballots). The races may influence whether procedures facilitating mail voting, such as drop boxes, will remain in place. Republicans gaining control could potentially roll back these measures, impacting the 2024 elections. Advocates are urging for statewide mandates, like House Bill 847, to ensure uniform voting standards across counties and safeguard voters’ access to the ballot. Read Article

Texas: Poll worker heart attack in Williamson County highlights poll watcher tensions | Natalia Contreras/Votebeat

A poll worker in Williamson County, Texas, initially had a heart attack while working at an early voting site. County officials initially blamed a voter fraud activist and poll watcher, Laura Pressley, for the incident, accusing her of causing the worker’s distress. However, after Pressley threatened legal action, Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell Jr. retracted the accusation and issued an apology. The incident highlights growing tensions between partisan poll watchers and election workers, escalating since the 2020 election, with baseless accusations and harassment making it difficult for election workers to do their jobs effectively. Pressley, a vocal opponent of electronic voting systems, has a history of suing counties and election officials over perceived violations of the Texas Election Code. She applied for the role of Williamson County elections administrator after the previous official’s resignation but was not selected. Read Article

A Virginia election chief says the ‘big lie’ ended her career. She’s fighting back. | Justin Jouvenal/The Washington Post

Christine Gibbons, a voting registrar in Virginia, faced harassment and allegations of fraud after the 2020 election. Accused of corruption and taken to court over baseless claims, Gibbons ultimately lost her position when the Republican-controlled board decided not to reappoint her. She filed a lawsuit, asserting that the board violated her First Amendment rights by removing her for partisan reasons. Legal experts suggest her case could set a precedent, as more election workers fight back against false allegations inspired by Trump’s claims of voter fraud. This comes amid a broader wave of election officials facing threats and intimidation, exacerbating a growing crisis in the profession. Reads Article

Washington: For the second year in a row, three counties reportedly go against state election security suggestion | Ellen Dennis/The Spokesman-Review

A week before elections, Washington state election officials are struggling to persuade three counties to implement a security device called an Albert sensor, which uses artificial intelligence to monitor network traffic for suspicious activity. While 36 out of 39 counties have installed the Albert sensor, Grant, Ferry, and Lincoln counties have not, citing concerns about its effectiveness and cost. The Secretary of State has expressed worry about these counties ignoring state and federal advice regarding the sensors, emphasizing that they are the Homeland Security standard for internet security. The sensors, created by the Center for Internet Security, do not block threats but send alerts when suspicious activity is detected. Read Article

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker assigns impeachment articles against elections chief Meagan Wolfe to committee | Molly Beck Jessie Opoien/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has referred impeachment articles against Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe to the Assembly Committee on Government Accountability and Oversight, following a campaign by a group threatening Vos with recall or primary challenges if he didn’t advance the articles. This move comes after Vos initially favored a legislative process to hire a new administrator. The ads targeting Wolfe, which falsely claim she implemented policies decided by the agency’s panel of commissioners and should be removed, were launched by the Wisconsin Election Committee, Inc., a group led by individuals with connections to past challenges against Vos and promoting false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election. Read Article

A Key Piece of Voting Technology Isn’t Federally Tested. That May Change | Eric Geller/The Messenger

The staff of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) has proposed the establishment of a testing and certification program for electronic poll books, which are tablet computers used by poll workers to verify voters’ eligibility. These e-poll books, though vital to the election process, currently lack federal security regulations. If implemented, this program would ensure that e-poll books meet privacy, security, and accessibility standards. While the proposal is being considered, any formal testing program for e-poll books won’t be in place for several years, likely missing the 2024 presidential election. This delay is due to the need for refining testing requirements, creating operational guidelines, and providing manufacturers with guidance for compliance. Read Article

Georgia Bureau of Investigation report provides new details in South Georgia county 2020 elections breach | Greg Bluestein and Mark Niesse/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has been conducting a year-long investigation into alleged election interference in Coffee County, separate from Fulton County prosecutors who charged Donald Trump and others with racketeering related to the same incident. The GBI’s nearly 400-page report provides additional details on the scheme, which involved copying election software, distributing sensitive data, and attempting to undermine the legitimacy of Georgia’s 2020 election results. The report highlights meetings between Trump allies, including Sidney Powell and Lin Wood, at Wood’s Tomotley Plantation in South Carolina, which was described as a “central hub for voter fraud information processing.” Additionally, the report identifies unindicted co-conspirators and sheds light on the involvement of the Atlanta-based data firm SullivanStrickler. Attorney General Chris Carr is reviewing the report, and his office has stated they will “continue to coordinate” with the GBI. Read Article

National: Schumer endorses guardrails for AI use in elections, considers candidate pledge | Carolina Nihill/FedScoop

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that guidelines for political candidates’ use of artificial intelligence (AI) are in development and might be implemented for the 2024 elections. Speaking at a summit, Schumer emphasized the need for guardrails to prevent AI from deceiving voters or disrupting electoral processes. He referred to a suggestion by Washington Post columnist Geoffrey A. Fowler, proposing an election pledge for candidates to label AI-generated communications and refrain from using AI to misrepresent competitors or confuse voters. Schumer stressed the importance of establishing AI guardrails ahead of the 2024 presidential election to ensure election integrity and combat misinformation. Read Article

Mississippi Secretary of State, other state websites go offline for several hours less than two weeks before election | Mississippi Today

The Mississippi Secretary of State’s website, along with several other state agency websites, experienced an outage for several hours due to an “unexpected issue,” just 12 days before the 2023 statewide election. Basic voting information, such as polling place locations, sample ballots, and campaign finance reports, was inaccessible during this time. The Mississippi Information Technology Services agency, responsible for managing the state’s website servers, reported that the situation was not related to cybersecurity or data integrity concerns. Last year, on Election Day in 2022, the Secretary of State’s website was down for several hours due to a cyberattack, but officials assured that the election system remained secure and uncompromised. Read Article

Georgia: Prosecutors are focused on Coffee County in Trump’s 2020 election case. Here’s why. | Sarah D. Wire/Los Angeles Times

In the final days before Congress was set to certify the 2020 presidential election results, allies of then-President Trump, including former national security advisor Michael Flynn, considered drafting an executive order to seize voting machines as a last-ditch effort to overturn the results. One of the drafts mentioned Coffee County, Georgia, where officials had refused to certify the election results, as a basis for the seizure. White House lawyers, alarmed by the idea, managed to dissuade Trump from signing the order. Later, Trump attorney Rudolph Giuliani assured Trump that they would gain voluntary access to Georgia voting systems, making the order unnecessary. Ultimately, efforts to obtain evidence of fraud from the machines proved unsuccessful, and Biden was inaugurated on January 20, 2021. Read Article

Pennsylvanians Are About to Decide Who Will Oversee the 2024 Elections | Daniel Nichanian/Bolts

Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie, a Democrat, played a pivotal role in implementing voter-friendly measures during the 2020 elections, including the installation of ballot drop boxes and ballot curing (allowing voters to correct minor mistakes on their mail ballots). These measures were in response to the challenges posed by the pandemic and faced opposition, including a lawsuit from Donald Trump, which Bucks County ultimately won. The upcoming elections in Bucks County will determine whether Democrats maintain control of the commission, as their majority helped establish a suburban firewall against Trump’s efforts to challenge election results. The discretion granted to county officials in Pennsylvania has led to a diverse set of election procedures, with Democrats generally advocating for expanded mail voting options and Republicans often opposing such measures. Read Article

Arizona prosecutors ask about 2020 pressure campaign by Trump allies | Yvonne Wingett Sanchez/The Wahington Post

The Arizona Attorney General’s investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election results is now focusing on the pressure exerted on local officials by key allies of former President Donald Trump. Specifically, investigators have interviewed current and former Republican members of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, who certified the 2020 presidential election results, and former House Speaker Rusty Bowers, who testified last year about Trump and Rudy Giuliani’s efforts to investigate unproven allegations of voter fraud. This shift in focus could signal an expansion of the investigation, which initially focused on 11 Arizona Republicans who falsely claimed to be the state’s legitimate electors. The investigation aims to uncover the behind-the-scenes efforts to halt vote-counting and delay the certification of election results. Read Article

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