National

A declassified intelligence assessment released Monday revealed that foreign government efforts to target the 2022 U.S. midterm elections appeared to increase compared to the 2018 elections, involving a diverse and growing group of foreign actors. While there was no known order from any foreign leader to undertake a comprehensive, whole-of-government influence campaign like Russia in 2016, the report identified China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba attempting to meddle in congressional elections. China, with high confidence, was assessed to have tacitly approved efforts to influence specific midterm races, aiming to intensify efforts to influence U.S. policy and public opinion in its favor. Russia sought to denigrate the Democratic Party and undermine confidence in the elections, targeting specific demographics. Iran aimed to exploit social divisions and undermine confidence in U.S. democratic institutions, with efforts limited by competing priorities. The report highlighted that foreign actors avoided technically challenging efforts to change actual votes, focusing on damaging the public perception of election integrity. Read Article

National: 2022 federal elections in the US not tainted by foreign interference, officials say | Eric Tucker’/Associated Press

A declassified U.S. government report released Monday states that foreign hackers did not alter vote totals or compromise the integrity of federal elections in the United States last year. The report, prepared jointly by the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security, identified instances of hackers linked to Iran, China, and Russia connecting to election infrastructure, scanning state government websites, and copying voter information. However, there is no evidence that these cyber activities had any impact on the election or vote totals. The report did not examine foreign efforts to shape public perception or influence voters’ opinions but focused on assessing the impact of foreign government activity on election infrastructure. Read Article

National: GOP voter-fraud crackdown overwhelmingly targets minorities, Democrats | Justin Jouvenal/The Washington Post

In the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, Republicans in six states established or expanded election integrity units to address alleged voter fraud. However, analysis by The Washington Post found that these units obtained only 47 convictions during a period when tens of millions of votes were cast. Moreover, the analysis revealed that the units overwhelmingly targeted minorities and Democrats for prosecution. Of the defendants whose race or ethnicity could be identified, 76 percent were Black or Hispanic, while registered Democrats constituted 58 percent of those charged. The cases pursued often collapsed, with 42 out of 115 cases resolved ending in dismissal, acquittal, or dropped charges. The Post’s findings have raised concerns among experts and advocates, who argue that the units have been a waste of money and may undermine democracy. Read Article

National: Some Trump fake electors from 2020 haven’t faded away. They have roles in how the 2024 race is run | Gabe Stern/Associated Press

Six Republicans, including Jim Hindle, who were allegedly involved in attempting to overturn the election outcome in Nevada, have been indicted by Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford. Hindle, who oversees elections in heavily Republican Storey County, replaced the interim clerk and remains in his role despite the charges. The trend of fake electors retaining influence over elections is observed in battleground states like Wisconsin, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. In Wisconsin, Bob Spindell, involved in the 2020 fake elector scheme, remains on the bipartisan election commission, while in Arizona, fake electors Jake Hoffman and Anthony Kern hold powerful legislative roles. Read Article

National: Alphabet to limit election queries Bard and AI-based search can answer | Reuters

Google has announced that it will restrict the types of election-related queries that its chatbot Bard and search generative experience can respond to in the lead-up to the 2024 U.S. Presidential election, with enforcement expected by early 2024. The company plans to focus on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in serving voters and campaigns related to the 2024 elections, in the US and internationally. This move follows Meta’s November decision to bar political campaigns and advertisers from using its new generative AI advertising products. Governments globally are increasingly looking to regulate AI due to concerns about its potential misuse, particularly in the spread of misinformation. Read Article

National: Google restricts political ads, X courts them as US election year looms | John Leonard/computing.co.uk

As the U.S. presidential election year approaches, Google and Twitter are adopting different approaches to election-related content and political advertising on their platforms. Google has announced that it will restrict the types of election-related queries to which its AI chatbot Bard and Search Generative Experience (SGE) can respond, aiming to reduce the spread of misinformation and protect the election’s integrity. In contrast, X (formerly Twitter) is actively seeking political advertising dollars after experiencing a 50% drop in revenues. Twitter had banned political ads in 2019 but X reversed course in August 2022 and is building a dedicated political ad sales team to target campaigners and political action committees, with a rumored target of $100 million from political ads in the 2024 election cycle. Read Article

National: Growing threat of political violence looms over 2024, former members of Congress warn | Jacob Fischler/Michigan Advance

Former members of Congress, including ex-Senator Doug Jones and former Representative Barbara Comstock, express deep concern about the rising acceptance of political violence ahead of the 2024 presidential election. They attribute much of the blame to former President Donald Trump and his supporters, citing coded language and intentional threats. A recent poll indicates an increase in the number of respondents who believe resorting to violence is necessary to save the country. The former lawmakers stress the importance of addressing this trend to protect democracy, acknowledging the impact on election workers, with concerns raised about threats and abuse faced by state and local officials. Read Article

National: States that left ERIC are struggling to maintain voter rolls, documents show | Jen Fifield/Votebeat

Several Republican-led states are facing challenges in finding effective ways to update their voter rolls after withdrawing from the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a cross-state voter roll cleaning program. Virginia paid $29,000 to regain limited access to ERIC data. Alabama and Missouri devised less rigorous plans for cleaning voter rolls. A proposed alternative system faced a server attack. Documents reveal that lies were spread about ERIC, and officials in some states tried unsuccessfully to prevent their withdrawal. The exodus from ERIC, fueled by misinformation, compromises the ability to share data and maintain accurate voter rolls, raising concerns about election integrity and access to voting. Read Article

National: Meta ad policy allowing 2020 election denial followed warning of political backlash, sources say | Max Zahn/ABC

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, faced internal discussions over its policy toward election-denial claims in political advertising in 2022. The company considered banning political ads that denied the results of previous elections, including the 2020 contest, but some employees warned of potential harm to Meta’s standing with Republican elected officials and candidates. Ultimately, Meta decided to permit political advertisements featuring false claims of a rigged 2020 election on Instagram and Facebook, while prohibiting ads that question the validity of ongoing or future elections. Critics argue that the policy decision was influenced by political considerations and the prevalence of 2020 election denial among Republicans. Read Article

National: The cyber expert who took Mike Lindell’s $5 million challenge and won | Deena Winter/Minnesota Reformer

Bob Zeidman, a cyber forensics expert, was initially reluctant to take up MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell’s $5 million challenge to disprove claims of election fraud in the 2020 election. Zeidman, who voted for Donald Trump, attended Lindell’s “cyber symposium” and discovered that the data presented as evidence was bogus. An arbitration panel ruled in Zeidman’s favor, stating that Lindell’s claims were not substantiated. In an interview, Zeidman discussed Lindell’s lack of understanding of the technology involved, the mistakes in presenting data, and his belief that there was no purposeful effort by voting machine companies to change the election results. Read Article

National: Russia’s 2016 election meddling could play a role in Trump’s 2020 election case | Eric Tucker/Associated Press

In an upcoming trial focused on Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, both the defense and prosecutors have expressed a desire to highlight events from the 2016 election, each for distinct purposes. Trump’s defense team seeks materials related to Russian interference in 2016, claiming it’s relevant to his confidence in the 2020 election’s security. Prosecutors, on the other hand, want to present Trump’s “historical record” of sowing doubt in election results, including claims of fraud in 2016, to establish a pattern of behavior indicating intent and motive to obstruct the certification of the 2020 election results. Read Article

National: Experts warn of ‘serious threats’ for 2024 from election equipment software breaches | Christina A. Cassidy/Associated Press

A group of nearly two dozen computer scientists, election security experts, and voter advocacy organizations has written a letter urging federal agencies, including the FBI and the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, to investigate efforts to access voting system software in several states. The letter, organized by the left-leaning group Free Speech for People, outlines potential security threats and risks to the 2024 election and beyond. The experts request a federal probe and risk assessment of voting machines used across the country, emphasizing that breaches affected equipment made by two companies representing over 70% of votes cast in the U.S. Read Article

National: A surge in violent threats against US public officials is disrupting American democracy | Rob Kuznia, Majlie de Puy Kamp, Alex Leeds Matthews, Kyung Lah, Anna-Maja Rappard and Yahya Abou-Ghazala/CNN

As the 2024 campaign revs up – and on the heels of indictments against the Republican frontrunner, former President Donald Trump, who has verbally attacked some of his courtroom adversaries – the ongoing onslaught of violent messages, particularly to federal lawmakers and other public officials, threatens to disrupt the American machinery of government. … Threats have also recently targeted election officials. Last month, staff in election offices in several states received suspicious letters. One of them, in Washington state, contained fentanyl. … CNN reviewed more than 540 cases involving people who have been federally charged with making threats against public officials or institutions between January 2013 and November 2023. Read Article

National: Voter advocates, conservative activists brace for 2024 election showdowns | Julia Harte and Tim Reid/Reuters

As the U.S. approaches the 2024 election, various groups are gearing up to address threats to voters’ rights and concerns about potential electoral fraud. A non-partisan coalition plans to recruit over 20,000 volunteers for its “election protection” effort, while the Republican National Committee aims to train tens of thousands of poll watchers through its newly launched “Election Integrity Department.” Despite widespread rejection of claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election, former President Donald Trump continues to assert baseless allegations. Recruitment drives are ongoing, and election officials anticipate potential clashes reminiscent of the 2020 election, prompting increased preparedness for disruptions. Read Article

National: America’s Election Officials Fight Disinformation and Death Threats Ahead of 2024 | Allison Mollenkamp/Just Security

Election administrators in the United States, including Karen Brinson Bell, Executive Director of the State Board of Elections in North Carolina, are facing unprecedented challenges, including death threats, harassment, and a barrage of public records requests, as they prepare for the 2024 elections. The threats are linked to the persistent disinformation surrounding the 2020 election, and administrators are also grappling with legal changes to voting systems, loss of institutional knowledge due to staff turnover, and the need to educate voters about evolving election rules. Efforts to counter disinformation include engaging with the public through various channels, but the increasing demands and hostile environment are taking a toll on election officials, leading to high turnover rates and concerns about the upcoming elections. Read Article

National: Ignoring questions about election problems will fuel doubts and baseless allegations | Jessica Huseman/Votebeat

The aftermath of the 2023 Election Day has seen increased scrutiny and baseless allegations of fraud, with figures like Abe Hamadeh, a Republican candidate in Arizona, tweeting about errors in Pennsylvania and elsewhere to support claims of mass fraud and errors. There’s a growing spotlight on county election administration, exemplified by incidents like widespread ballot-printing errors in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. The responses to such errors vary, with Northampton County responding promptly and providing clarifications, while Hinds County, Mississippi, faced ballot shortages and offered inadequate explanations. Read Article

National: Voting companies go to court over 2020 election claims as Trump returns to the ballot | Jane C. Timm/NBC

Voting machine companies Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic are set to return to court in 2024, filing separate lawsuits alleging defamation against Fox News, Newsmax, Trump lawyers Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani, and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell. The litigation could involve depositions or testimony from former Trump aides and allies, reveal new evidence about false claims of election rigging, and remind voters of Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. The trials, including Dominion’s case against Fox News and Newsmax, and Smartmatic’s case against Lindell and Newsmax, are scheduled for 2024, potentially affecting the election season. Read Article

Election Night Hand Counts: Realities and Risks | Verified Voting

A new report published by Verified Voting examines misguided proposals to eliminate all vote counting machines and move to hand counting all ballots on election night that would have far reaching implications for our trust in our elections. Elections are a combination of people, processes, and technology. Human oversight of election processes is integral to ensuring that voting technology works correctly and that votes are counted as cast. “Hand to eye” examination of ballots in audits and recounts are quality control checks that carefully and transparently assess that voting technology got the election outcome right—or correct the outcome if it did not—and give voters justified confidence in election outcomes. But that best practice does not translate to humans hand counting millions of votes on election night. The paper examines the risks of full election night hand counts, explains when hand counts should be used, and emphasizes why common-sense best practices that employ voting machines and post-election audits make our election outcomes verifiable and resilient. Read Report

National: In face of threats, election workers say: ‘You are not disrupting the democratic process’ | Matt Vasilogambros/Stateline

Local election workers across the nation are facing increased threats and intimidation, with lies about rigged elections and the 2020 presidential outcome fueling conspiracy theories. In response to these ongoing threats, state lawmakers in several states, including Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, have enacted new protections for election workers and increased penalties for those who harass or threaten them. However, the exodus of election officials due to safety concerns raises concerns about the potential for errors and increased vulnerability to conspiracy theories. Read Article

National: Ballot shortages are rare in U.S. elections, but here’s why they sometimes happen | Ashley Lopez/NPR

Ballot shortages at some polling locations in Mississippi, along with instances in Ohio and Texas, underscore the challenge election officials face in determining the number of ballots needed. In Mississippi, a surge in voter turnout caught officials unprepared, resulting in shortages, long lines, and some individuals walking away. Determining how many ballots to print is described as an “inexact science,” involving estimates based on past turnout. The costs of mistakes can be high, with states like Mississippi having laws about the minimum number of ballots to print, leading to potential waste. The absence of early voting or no-excuse absentee voting in some states complicates the task, emphasizing the importance of accurate planning to safeguard election integrity. Read Article

National: How election officials are planning to avoid a repeat of 2020’s slow vote count | Zach Montellaro/Politico

In preparation for the 2024 elections, several battleground states in the United States are taking measures to speed up the counting of votes to avoid the prolonged uncertainty experienced in 2020. New laws and procedures aim to facilitate quicker counting and processing, minimizing the time between polls closing and unofficial results being announced. States are allowing more pre-processing of mail ballots before Election Day, enhancing efficiency and expediting the release of results. While some states have made significant changes to improve the speed of ballot counting, others, such as Pennsylvania, still face challenges and partisan disputes. The goal is to reduce the period of uncertainty, limiting the potential for misinformation and false claims about the election outcome. Read Article

National: Federal government stops helping Big Tech spot foreign meddling amid GOP legal threats | Naomi Nix and Cat Zakrzewski/The Washington Post

The U.S. government has ceased notifying social networks, including Meta, about foreign disinformation campaigns on their platforms, disrupting a longstanding practice aimed at preventing interference in American politics. This change, attributed to a conservative legal campaign challenging initiatives established after the 2016 election, involves a reduction in communications about global influence campaigns. The shift is linked to a July ruling limiting the Biden administration’s communications with tech platforms in response to a lawsuit, Missouri v. Biden, which alleges that coordination violates the First Amendment. The legal uncertainty is causing foreign policy officials to hesitate in their communications with tech companies. Read Article

National: Ahead of 2024 election, Meta worries about lack of information on top-tier nation-state covert operations | AJ Vicens/CyberScoop

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has warned that foreign governments, particularly Russia, Iran and China, are likely to continue running inauthentic messaging campaigns via fake social media accounts leading up to elections worldwide in 2024. In a new report, Meta officials expressed concern that the U.S. government has stopped proactively sharing information with the company and other social networking platforms, which has been a crucial source of information about major, nation-state influence operations in the past. Meta’s report also highlighted its efforts to combat inauthentic accounts and campaigns, pointing out that it had identified and neutralized three covert influence campaigns in the third quarter, two from China and one from Russia. Read Article

National: Misinformation, cybersecurity among top issues ahead of 2024 elections | Chris Teale/Route Fifty

As the U.S. prepares for the 2024 elections, state and local officials are on alert for potential threats posed by cyberattacks and artificial intelligence (AI) in the wake of incidents during the 2022 midterms. The Mississippi Secretary of State’s website experienced a denial-of-service attack, and AI-generated content, including deepfakes, has become a concern. Efforts to regulate AI in political advertisements are underway, with lawmakers introducing legislation to require disclosures. The Department of Homeland Security expects cybercriminals to exploit networks and data used by political parties and election officials, emphasizing the need for increased cybersecurity funding for state and local governments. The public’s concerns about disinformation, deepfakes, and AI are reflected in surveys, with calls for action to protect voters and regulate AI-generated content. State and local officials are encouraged to enhance cybersecurity practices and training to mitigate potential threats. Read Article

National: Election officials fear 2024 threats are escalating after series of suspicious envelopes | Zach Montellaro/Politico

Election officials across the United States are on high alert after receiving suspicious letters containing what the FBI says may be fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid. Offices in at least five states—California, Georgia, Oregon, Nevada, and Washington—received these letters, raising concerns among election workers already facing threats and harassment since the 2020 elections. The FBI and the United States Postal Inspection Service issued a briefing document, describing the letters as a potential domestic terrorist event. The envelopes, appearing ordinary, had “Attn Ballots” typed on the front. Election officials fear that the threats, fueled by conspiracy theories, will escalate as the 2024 presidential election approaches. The letters have already caused disruptions in some areas, with delays in ballot counting reported in Washington state. Election officials are working to ensure the safety of their workers and to intercept any additional letters. Read Article

National: How the ‘Big Lie’ Was Born Inside Fox News | Brian Stelter/Politico

In the aftermath of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, owner of Fox News, urged then-President Donald Trump to accept defeat. In an editorial titled “President Trump, your legacy is secure — stop the ‘stolen election’ rhetoric,” published in the New York Post, Murdoch and his son Lachlan advised Trump on handling the loss with dignity and urged him to abandon baseless conspiracy theories. However, Fox News host Maria Bartiromo defied this guidance during her show, “Sunday Morning Futures,” by featuring guest Sidney Powell, who propagated unfounded claims of a coordinated effort to steal the election. Bartiromo’s source for these claims was an email from a Trump supporter with bizarre and baseless assertions. Despite attempts to intervene and correct the misinformation, Fox News continued to host guests spreading false narratives about the election, contributing to the persistence of the “Big Lie” that the election was stolen. The consequences of this misinformation are ongoing, with lawsuits and trials involving Fox News and key figures expected to extend into the Lachlan Murdoch era. Read Article

National: Facebook, Instagram will allow political ads that claim the 2020 election was stolen | Clare Duffy/CNN