National

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Jen Easterly assured Americans of the integrity and resilience of U.S. election infrastructure, citing the dedicated efforts of state and local officials over the past six years to secure election systems. While she emphasized confidence in the established security measures, Easterly acknowledged concerns about the information environment. She highlighted the use of AI in generating deceptive content, particularly deepfakes and generative AI in the context of disinformation. Easterly stated that CISA is actively focused on supporting local offices, employing tactics like rumor control and collaboration with partners in the Intelligence Community and FBI to address potential disinformation threats from foreign adversaries. She expressed confidence in the dedication of state and local election officials in safeguarding democracy. Read Article

National: Voting machine companies use cybersecurity stress tests to take on conspiracy theorists | Sean Lyngaas/CNN

As the 2024 election approaches and misinformation continues to pose a challenge for American voters, major US voting equipment manufacturers are collaborating with cybersecurity experts to conduct additional stress tests on their systems. Election Systems & Software, Hart InterCivic, and Unisyn have granted a group of vetted researchers access to their software and hardware for almost two days to identify potential vulnerabilities. The tests aim to address conspiracy theories by enhancing transparency about the security assessments conducted before equipment is deployed in polling places. While the results are still being analyzed, vendors are already making adjustments to their security protocols in response to the findings. This move comes after voting equipment manufacturers faced threats following false claims about the 2020 election, emphasizing the need for a delicate balance between addressing vulnerabilities and preventing the spread of misinformation. Read Article

National: GOP states announce new voter roll systems. Are they as secure as ERIC? | Daniel C. Vock/Route Fifty

Several states, including Alabama, Ohio, and Virginia, have recently entered into agreements to share voter information in an attempt to combat election fraud. Critics argue that these deals may potentially expose voters to security breaches and unfounded attempts to remove them from voter rolls. These partnerships come after some Republican-led states withdrew from the Election Registration Information Center (ERIC), which serves as a clearinghouse for voter data. Critics of ERIC claim it is too liberal, prompting some states to seek alternative methods to achieve similar goals. However, experts caution that the state-by-state approach may pose challenges in terms of data quality, costs, and security compared to ERIC’s more sophisticated methods for identifying voter movements and its secure data handling procedures. Read Article

National: Artificial intelligence is coming for elections, and no one can predict its impact | Laura Zommer/International Journalists’ Network

AI-generated disinformation is a growing concern for upcoming elections worldwide, as campaigns employ AI to create misleading visuals without clear disclosure. For instance, a video by Ron DeSantis’ campaign team utilized AI-generated images without informing viewers, blurring the line between real and fabricated content. In contrast, the GOP issued a video attacking President Joe Biden with a clear disclaimer about its AI origin. Fact-checking organizations stress the importance of scrutinizing image sources, looking for imperfections, and using automatic detection tools. Experts advise refining AI filters, creating tools to counter deepfakes and phishing, and appointing a lead agency for AI governance in elections to safeguard democratic processes. Read Article

Georgia: Trump electors: ‘fake’ or ‘contingent’? – Judge hears arguments seeking a move to federal court | Bill Rankin and David Wickert/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Three Republicans who cast Electoral College votes for Donald Trump after the 2020 presidential election are asserting that they were acting within the bounds of the law and as federal officers, defending their actions before a federal judge. The Trump electors, including former Georgia GOP Chairman David Shafer and state Sen. Shawn Still, face charges of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election and are seeking to have their cases moved from Fulton Superior Court to U.S. District Court in Atlanta. Their defense argues that they were “contingent” electors under the federal Electoral Count Act, contending that Governor Brian Kemp’s certification of Joe Biden was invalidated due to pending litigation filed by Trump. The judge is set to make a decision regarding the case soon. Read Article

Election experts issue report recommending changes ahead of 2024 | Zach Montellaro/Politico

A panel of prominent election experts has issued a report warning that American democracy is facing significant stress in the lead-up to the 2024 election. The report, which includes 24 policy recommendations, addresses issues stemming from hyperpolarized politics and closely contested elections in the past two decades. Among the suggestions are the implementation of laws safeguarding election officials, ensuring ample and robust voting opportunities, and policies for social media companies to combat election misinformation. The committee emphasizes the need for clear rules and early resolution of election disputes. It also calls for a swift determination on challenges to candidates’ eligibility, such as those regarding former President Donald Trump’s potential candidacy under the 14th Amendment. The report underscores the importance of these measures to prevent public unrest and maintain confidence in the electoral process. Read Article

National: 2024 election-related violence among security threats facing US, DHS says | Holmes Lybrand and Kaanita Iyer/CNN

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released a threat assessment for 2024, identifying potential risks and challenges for the United States. The report highlights concerns over possible violence and foreign influence targeting election infrastructure, processes, and personnel during the 2024 election season. It anticipates that Russia, China, and Iran, with advanced influence campaigns, may employ AI-generated content and disinformation on social media to shape policy outcomes and influence Americans. The DHS also warns of threats from Americans motivated by conspiracy theories and anti-government sentiments, who could aim to disrupt the election by targeting voters, election workers, and government officials, as well as polling stations and vote counting sites. Read Article

National: State election chiefs look to courts to deal with Trump ballot challenges | Nnamdi Egwuonwu and Emma Barnett/NBC

State election officers are cautious about involving themselves in potential challenges to Donald Trump’s eligibility for the 2024 ballot based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bars those who engaged in insurrection from holding office. Secretaries of state in New Hampshire, Arizona, Michigan, and Colorado have either faced or anticipate legal disputes over Trump’s eligibility for state ballots in the upcoming Republican primaries. Many election officials are hesitant to weigh in on this matter, with some emphasizing that their offices might not be the appropriate venues for making final determinations on such issues. They argue that candidates’ qualifications are typically decided by the courts after filing for office. Read Article

National: Voting rights activists sound alarms over private tool that could lead to cancelling voter registrations | Fredreka Schouten and Curt Devine/CNN

Voting rights groups are raising concerns over a new tool called EagleAI NETwork, supported by some conservatives, aimed at identifying fraudulent voter registrations. Critics argue that the private software relies on unreliable information and could potentially disenfranchise legitimate voters. The creators of EagleAI NETwork claim it to be a pivotal tool for validating, maintaining, and reviewing election rosters. However, voting rights advocates see this as an extension of the skepticism around election administration that emerged among certain Republicans after Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss. They fear that the data used by EagleAI NETwork may not contain enough identifying details, potentially leading to the removal of valid voters from the rolls. The software is being promoted as an alternative to the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), which has been criticized by Trump and conservative activists. While EagleAI NETwork has made pitches to officials in various states, none have confirmed plans to use it, and it could potentially be exploited for mass voter registration challenges ahead of the 2024 election. Critics emphasize that such challenges could burden voters and election officials alike. Read Article

National: The U.S is getting hacked. So the Pentagon is overhauling its approach to cyber. | Maggie Miller and Lara Seligman/Politico

The Defense Department’s secretive branch, U.S. Cyber Command, is shifting its approach due to the evolving landscape of cyberwarfare. Recent high-profile cyberattacks from Russia, China, and criminal networks have prompted a realization that collaboration is now imperative. Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting private companies and government agencies beyond the Pentagon’s typical scope. Consequently, the Defense Department is engaging with other federal agencies, private sectors, and foreign allies to address cyber threats to critical systems, including elections. This shift marks a departure from the previous focus on protecting military networks, as the Pentagon recognizes the need to defend against a broader range of cyber threats, including ransomware attacks on private businesses crucial to the U.S. economy. Read Article

Online voting is insecure but many Americans still vote that way | Miles Parks/NPR

The advice from cybersecurity experts is unanimous: Internet voting is a bad idea. A working group at UC Berkeley, funded by Bradley Tusk, Uber’s first political adviser, aimed to establish baseline standards for safe online ballot returns but concluded that secure internet voting remains unattainable. Despite this, internet voting was already used by over 300,000 Americans in the 2020 elections, primarily overseas and military voters. While the option is limited, it’s slowly expanding, driven in part by lawsuits advocating for accessibility for voters with disabilities. Critics emphasize the inherent risks, while proponents argue for improved security measures. Read Article

National: AI that alters voice and imagery in political ads will require disclosure on Google and YouTube | Michelle Chapman/Associated Press

Google has announced that political ads using artificial intelligence (AI) to alter imagery or sounds must now include a prominent disclosure indicating that the content has been synthetically altered. This rule, starting in mid-November, aims to combat the potential spread of manipulated or misleading information in political advertising. The new requirement will apply to political ads on Google platforms, including YouTube, and third-party websites within Google’s ad display network. While Google is not outright banning the use of AI in political advertising, this move is expected to influence other platforms to adopt similar measures. Read Article

National: Special counsel election probe continues with focus on fundraising, voting equipment breaches | Zachary Cohen and Paula Reid/CNN

Special counsel Jack Smith is continuing his investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election, focusing on how money raised from baseless claims of voter fraud was used to fund attempts to breach voting equipment in several states won by Joe Biden. Recent interviews with witnesses indicate that prosecutors are particularly interested in the role of former Trump lawyer Sidney Powell, whose nonprofit, Defending the Republic, hired forensics firms that accessed voting equipment in swing states. This investigation raises the possibility that others could still face legal consequences, and it remains unclear how it fits into Smith’s broader probe. Powell is already facing criminal charges in Georgia related to her alleged involvement in a multi-state plot to illegally access voting systems after the 2020 election. Read Article

National: Secretaries of state get ready for possible challenges to Trump’s ballot access | Vaughn Hillyard/NBC

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan are grappling with potential legal challenges to former President Donald Trump’s eligibility to appear on the 2024 ballot. The issue revolves around the 14th Amendment, which bars individuals who have “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” from holding public office. The question of whether Trump’s actions on January 6, 2021, qualify under this clause has gained attention among legal scholars, and state election officials are preparing to address any challenges while ensuring a smooth election process. Both Fontes and Scanlan emphasize that their primary goal is to run the elections efficiently while handling any legal matters that arise. Read Article

National: Constitutional debate over Trump’s eligibility to run more extensive than realized | Zach Montellaro/Politico

Election officials in several states, including Colorado, Arizona, Michigan, and New Hampshire, have been contemplating the application of the 14th Amendment’s “insurrection clause” to potentially bar former President Donald Trump from seeking the presidency again. The legal theory argues that Trump’s actions post-oath of office could disqualify him. While some officials, like Georgia’s Brad Raffensperger, believe they lack the authority to make this determination, the liberal watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has filed a lawsuit in Colorado to declare Trump ineligible, marking one of the first lawsuits on this matter. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, who supports the lawsuit, emphasizes the unprecedented nature of this situation and the need for legal resolution regarding ballot access. Other organizations are also urging secretaries of state to disqualify Trump, with Free Speech for People and Mi Familia Vota Education Fund sending letters to officials in nine states, including Georgia and Michigan, in July. Read Article

National: TechScape: As the US election campaign heats up, so could the market for misinformation | Kari Paul/The Guardian

Twitter, now rebranded as X, has reversed its global ban on political advertising since 2019, raising concerns about the potential spread of misinformation ahead of the 2024 elections. This shift in policy is attributed to Elon Musk’s push for profitability and his identification as a “free speech absolutist.” Musk’s decisions, including the lifting of bans on accounts like Donald Trump’s, have sparked alarm among experts, who worry that these policy changes, coupled with workforce reductions, could hamper the platform’s ability to combat misinformation. Other platforms like YouTube and Meta have also made policy reversals regarding election integrity and the reinstatement of accounts spreading misinformation, potentially creating an environment ripe for misinformation wars. Additionally, the rise of generative AI poses a new risk for manipulating public perception on a large scale. Read Article

Voting Blogs: EagleAI – A New Antidemocracy Tool | Andrew Garber and Alice Clapman/Brennan Center for Justice

EagleAI NETwork, a new project supported by prominent election deniers, including Jason Frazier and Cleta Mitchell, is raising concerns about its potential to undermine voting rights and elections. EagleAI relies on a database of public voter data to identify potentially ineligible voters using unreliable criteria, such as matching names on voter lists with change-of-address forms or felony convictions, or even nursing home registrations, which can potentially disenfranchise voters. It allows amateur investigators to auto-prepare challenge forms, making it a clearinghouse for mass voter challenges, which, when based on unreliable data, often disrupt election administration, intimidate voters, and fuel election misinformation. The project’s backers are pushing to replace responsible voter list maintenance tools like the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) with EagleAI, posing risks to accurate voter rolls and potentially enabling more election misinformation. Read Article

National: Cybersecurity experts say the west has failed to learn lessons from Ukraine | Mehul Srivatsava/Ars Technica

Ukraine’s success in defending against Russian cyberattacks during its conflict with Russia has been acknowledged and studied by Western nations, including the United States. However, experts argue that the West has struggled to replicate the collaborative and fast-moving responses that were key to Ukraine’s success. Regulatory and legal roadblocks, as well as a reluctance to share sensitive or embarrassing information, have hindered efforts to defend against cyber threats. Some believe that radical transparency, where organizations openly share information about breaches and threats, could be a more effective approach. The fear of escalation in cyber conflicts is also a factor influencing responses to cyber threats. Read Article

National: State election officials studying whether 14th Amendment disqualifies ‘insurrectionist’ Trump from ballot | Marshall Cohen/CNN

Election officials in key battleground states are exploring the legal possibilities of disqualifying Donald Trump from running for president under the 14th Amendment, which prohibits insurrectionists from holding public office. While the Constitution doesn’t outline how to enforce this ban, it has only been used twice since the late 1800s, mainly against former Confederates. Officials in New Hampshire and Michigan are examining this provision’s potential applicability to the upcoming presidential election, and they may act in concert with other key states. Liberal activists and constitutional scholars previously tried to disqualify lawmakers using the 14th Amendment but faced limited success. Protracted legal battles are expected if officials pursue this route to disqualify Trump. Read Article

National: Election workers have gotten death threats and warnings they will be lynched, the US government says | Lyndsay Whitehurst and Christina A. Cassidy/Associated Press

More than a dozen individuals have been charged by a US Justice Department unit focused on preventing violent threats against election workers, as government employees face ongoing threats, even during non-election periods, largely fueled by false claims about the 2020 election. Experts worry that the situation could worsen in the lead-up to the 2024 election and call for greater protection of election workers. The task force, created in 2021, has filed 14 cases so far, with two resulting in prison sentences. Threats against election workers are making it increasingly difficult to retain experienced personnel, which could pose challenges for the 2024 election. Read Article

National: Nearly every battleground state is at risk of election denialism interfering in 2024 | Brian Hinkle/The Fulcrum

More than two-thirds of American voters live in states at moderate or high risk of election denialism jeopardizing future elections. The threats posed by election denialism include interference in election offices, harassment and violence against election officials, and disinformation campaigns. The article suggests several policy solutions for states to counter these threats, including enacting statewide voting rights acts, implementing stronger nonpartisan election administration policies, protecting election officials, and increasing transparency measures. It emphasizes the importance of addressing election denialism to protect and strengthen democracy in the United States. Read Article

National: Mr. Bot goes to Washington: AI will change American elections, but not in the obvious way | The Economist

The use of AI-generated deepfakes in political campaigns, while raising concerns about manipulation and disinformation, may not have a significant impact on elections, according to experts. Research suggests that most voters are immune to persuasion, whether by fake or truthful news, and tend to view political messages as spam. Moreover, social media is not the primary source of news for many people, and they often distrust any political content they encounter online. While AI-generated deepfakes could influence elections by saturating social media with misleading information, they are more likely to reinforce existing beliefs rather than change minds. However, AI could make spreading such content more cost-effective and sophisticated. Read Article

National: Violent threats, racist messages: Bipartisan officials call the aftermath of the 2020 election ‘terrifying’ | Sudiksha Kochi/USA Today

Officials from various states have reported receiving threats and facing intimidation from supporters of former President Donald Trump after the 2020 election. For instance, Philadelphia City Commissioner Omar Sabir faced threats and had to change his daily routines due to concerns for his safety. Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers received threats after refusing to reject the 2020 election results, and Republican Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his family received threats as well. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel also expressed concerns about threats and a plot to overturn the results of the election in her state. These incidents shed light on the consequences of the false claims of election fraud and the pressure campaign that followed the 2020 election. Read Article

National: Federal judge rejects bids to halt Georgia prosecution of Trump aides over 2020 election | Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein/Politico

A federal judge rejected the emergency filings made by former Trump administration officials Mark Meadows and Jeffrey Clark, ensuring that they will face arrest this week. Meadows and Clark, who are charged with former President Donald Trump in a racketeering conspiracy to undermine the results of the 2020 election, had requested the court to prohibit the arrest by a Friday deadline, arguing that their cases should be handled and dismissed by federal courts due to their work for the Trump administration. The judge ruled that state proceedings can continue while the federal court considers whether to shift the case to the federal system. This is part of a broader case by District Attorney Fani Willis to prosecute the 2020 election subversion conspiracy. Read Article

National: In Trump cases, experts say defendant’s rhetoric will be hard to police | Devlin Barrett, Spencer S. Hsu, Isaac Arnsdorf/The Washington Post

The challenge of keeping politics out of a criminal prosecution becomes particularly difficult when politicians are both the alleged perpetrators and the candidates for higher office. In the case of the 2020 election obstruction charges against former President Donald Trump, U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan’s efforts to prevent political influences from affecting the case are met with significant complexities. Trump’s political activity and rhetoric during his candidacy could potentially hinder the fair progression of legal proceedings. Balancing the protection of the judicial process with First Amendment rights and potential voter influence proves to be a challenging endeavor for the judge. Read Article

National: This issue could knock Trump off ballots nationwide. Get ready for it to dominate primary season | David Lauter/Los Angeles Times

Efforts are underway to use Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to bar Donald Trump from running for office, citing his conduct during the Capitol attack. Section 3 disqualifies individuals from office if they’ve engaged in “insurrection.” This provision has been receiving renewed attention as conservative legal scholars argue that Trump’s behavior aligns with its meaning. Liberal legal groups have started researching state laws and working with voters to challenge Trump’s access to the ballot. The challenges are likely to come towards the end of this year and early next year, possibly leading to a Supreme Court showdown, which could significantly disrupt the primary season. Read Article

National: Republicans want the next GOP president to curb election security agency that angered Trump | Laura Gersony/ABC

In preparation for a potential Republican victory in the next U.S. presidential election, an influential group of Republicans, under the initiative called Project 2025 led by the Heritage Foundation think tank, is proposing to scale back the federal government’s oversight of online misinformation. The proposal specifically targets the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), a part of the Department of Homeland Security focused on guarding critical infrastructure, including election systems. Project 2025 recommends ending CISA’s efforts to counter misinformation and disinformation, arguing that the federal government shouldn’t be the “arbiter of truth.” Critics, including some democracy experts, are concerned that such a move could hamper efforts to address false information online and its potential impacts on democracy. Read Article

National: To Protect Elections, Protect Researchers | Center for Democracy and Technology