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 ArticleNew 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 ArticleMichigan 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 ArticleOhio: 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 ArticlePennsylvania 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 ArticleTexas 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 ArticleWisconsin: 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 ArticleOpinion: 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 ArticleA 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 ArticleNational: 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 ReportNational: 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 ArticleNational: ‘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 ArticleOpinion: 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 MoreOpinion: Exodus of state election workers posing a threat to democracy | Mark Z. Barabak/Los Angeles Times
The spread of election denialism and falsehoods about the 2020 election is having a tangible impact on local election officials, with roughly 40% of chief local elections officials in 11 Western states, including California, being new to the job since 2020, according to a study by political reform group Issue One. In battleground states like Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, the turnover exceeds 50%. Experienced election professionals are crucial for maintaining the integrity of the election process, but many are leaving due to harassment and threats. This turnover could have serious consequences for the smooth operation of elections and further erode public trust in the system. The study emphasizes the need for increased federal funding, improved election security, and legislation to protect election officials and their staff from harassment and interference. Reads ArticleCalifornia: Legal battle over tallying votes brews as Shasta County’s November special election looms | David Benda/Redding Record Searchlight
Shasta County is facing a legal battle over its plan to manually tally votes, which violates a new state law, AB 969, that essentially bans manual counting of ballots in regular elections with more than 1,000 registered voters. The county chair, Patrick Jones, insists on proceeding with the hand-count system despite warnings from the Secretary of State's office and the Attorney General's office that they must comply with the new law. Jones has threatened litigation if the state tries to stop the county. This move is part of a broader trend of new election laws and administrative changes, some of which have faced legal challenges. Read ArticleDistrict of Columbia Elections Board Says Hackers May Have Accessed Voter Data | Colleen Grablick/DCist
A hacking group named RansomVC has claimed responsibility for breaching the records of D.C.'s Board of Elections (DCBOE), gaining access to 600,000 lines of U.S. voter data through the web server DataNet used by DCBOE. While some voter information is public record, including names, addresses, and party affiliation, other sensitive data like contact information, social security numbers, and birth dates were not directly compromised. The FBI, Homeland Security, and D.C.’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer are all involved in investigating the hack. The breach follows a series of similar incidents targeting city agencies over the years, highlighting ongoing cybersecurity challenges. Read ArticleGeorgia: Judge denies bid to block voting law, including drop box limits | Mark Niesse/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
A federal judge ruled that lawsuits have not yet provided enough evidence to prove that Georgia's 2021 election law is racially discriminatory, leaving intact provisions limiting ballot drop boxes, voter ID, and water distribution to voters in line. This decision denies efforts by the U.S. Department of Justice and other plaintiffs to block the law while the case progresses toward a trial. The law, passed by the Republican-controlled Georgia General Assembly after the 2020 election, introduced various new regulations for absentee and early voting. The judge's ruling maintains rules such as restricting drop boxes, requiring additional forms of ID for absentee voting, banning volunteers from providing food and water to voters, and shortening absentee ballot application deadlines. The case may proceed to trial in 2024, but no date has been set. Read ArticleMichigan Introduces Legislation to Regulate A.I. in Elections | Public Citizen
Michigan has introduced a bipartisan bill package aimed at regulating content generated by artificial intelligence (A.I.) in election communications. The legislation, brought forward by State Representatives Penelope Tsernoglou, Matthew Bierlein, Noah Arbit, and Ranjeev Puri, requires a disclaimer on political advertisements if they involve A.I.-generated content and bans A.I. deepfakes in election-related communications unless they come with a clear disclosure. The move follows in the footsteps of other states like Texas, Minnesota, California, and Washington, which have already passed similar legislation to address concerns about the use of A.I. in elections. Read ArticleOpinion: Nevada normalizes its fake electors | Hugh Jackson/Nevada Current
The Nevada Secretary of State's office invited a fake elector, Jim DeGraffenried, to make a presentation to its Advisory Committee on Participatory Democracy, raising concerns about normalizing election denialism. DeGraffenried and other fake electors played a crucial role in Donald Trump's attempt to steal the 2020 presidential election. Despite their efforts to undermine democracy, the Nevada Republican Party sought to legitimize DeGraffenried by naming him Nevada's National Republican Committeeman. The decision to invite him to speak on participatory democracy has been criticized for giving a platform to those who spread misinformation about elections. Read ArticleNorth Carolina Republicans enact voting changes that weaken governor’s ability to oversee elections | Gary D. Robertson/Associated Press
North Carolina Republicans have overridden Democratic Governor Roy Cooper's vetoes, enacting new voting restrictions and reducing the governor's oversight on elections. The laws eliminate the governor's authority to appoint the State Board of Elections, giving that power to legislative leaders, and end a three-day grace period for receiving absentee ballots, requiring them to arrive by the end of in-person voting on Election Day to be counted. These changes, aimed at the 2024 elections, face legal challenges from Democrats who argue that they favor Republicans and hinder voter access. Other provisions in the new laws include prohibiting private funding for elections administration and altering appointments to various boards and commissions, shifting authority to the General Assembly. Read ArticleTexas: Kerr County voting machine fight brings chaos for election planning | Natalia Contreras/The Texas Tribune
In Kerr County the push for hand-counting ballots has led to significant disruptions in the local election administration, resulting in three different officials being responsible for running elections in the past two months. The effort, led by Republican County Commissioner Rich Paces, stems from baseless suspicions about the security of electronic voting equipment. This move has divided the overwhelmingly Republican county and will cost taxpayers around $250,000 due to the frequent changeovers. Reads ArticleVirginia Senators urge DOJ to probe Governor’s ‘purge’ of voter rolls | Laura Vozzella/The Washington Post
Democratic Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia, along with the state's six House Democrats, have called on Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate the removal of at least 270 eligible voters from Virginia's rolls by the Youngkin administration. The senators assert that this action, termed a "purge," may have affected thousands of voters, creating a significant barrier to the democratic process, especially considering the ongoing early voting for the November elections. The senators argue that these removals could be in violation of the Voting Rights Act and urge immediate action from the Justice Department to investigate and rectify the situation. Readd ArticleNational: AI disinformation is a threat to elections − learning to spot Russian, Chinese and Iranian meddling in other countries can help the US prepare for 2024 | Bruce Schneier/The Conversation
The evolving threat of foreign interference in elections is now being amplified by artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI and large language models. These technologies, introduced in late 2022 and early 2023, possess the capability to rapidly generate vast amounts of text in various tones and perspectives, making them potent tools for internet-era propaganda. As election seasons approach in numerous democratic countries, including Argentina, Taiwan, Indonesia, India, the European Union, and the U.S., the potential for AI-driven disinformation campaigns is substantial. While companies like Meta have become more adept at identifying and removing fake accounts, platforms like Telegram, WhatsApp, and TikTok provide new challenges, as they are less transparent and more suitable for short, provocative videos. Additionally, generative AI enables novel production and distribution techniques, like deploying persona bots on social media, which, when replicated en masse, could exert significant influence. Read Article