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Aug 20, 2024 | 
brennancenter.org | Ruby Edlin |Lawrence Norden
Microsoft released a report this month detailing efforts by Iran, Russia, and China to influence American voters ahead of the November election, divide the country, and even incite violence. The report describes a recent Iranian phishing attack targeting a presidential campaign. The day after its publication, former President Trump’s campaign cited the report when announcing that its internal communications had been hacked.
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Jul 17, 2024 | 
brennancenter.org | Ruby Edlin |Lawrence Norden
One core tactic in election deniers’ playbook is making false claims of voter fraud — and these are disproportionately aimed at cities with large populations of people of color. Such lies put the lives of election workers across the country at risk by spurring threats, harassment, and abuse. Election officials who serve communities of color, however, were disproportionately likely to be targeted by such attacks, according to the Brennan Center’s latest annual survey of election officials.
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May 4, 2024 | 
truthout.org | Ruby Edlin |Lawrence Norden
A new Brennan Center survey of local election officials reveals that the vast majority have taken steps since 2020 to protect voters, election workers, and election infrastructure from threats and violence in 2024. The enhanced security measures come as large numbers of election officials report having experienced threats, abuse, or harassment for doing their jobs.
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May 1, 2024 | 
brennancenter.org | Ruby Edlin |Lawrence Norden
A new Brennan Center survey of local election officials reveals that the vast majority have taken steps since 2020 to protect voters, election workers, and election infrastructure from threats and violence in 2024. The enhanced security measures come as large numbers of election officials report having experienced threats, abuse, or harassment for doing their jobs.
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Mar 18, 2024 | 
brennancenter.org | Ruby Edlin
This was originally published in Ms. Magazine. In 2022, voters elected the most diverse Congress in history—but that’s not saying much. Congress remains overwhelmingly male and white: Legislators of color make up just 25 percent of the government body, while the overall U.S. electorate is 41 percent people of color. That gap is as wide as it was 40 years ago. One barrier to fair representation is abuse and intimidation—according to a new report from the Brennan Center.
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Mar 6, 2024 | 
msmagazine.com | Ruby Edlin
In 2022, voters elected the most diverse Congress in history—but that’s not saying much. Congress remains overwhelmingly male and white: Legislators of color make up just 25 percent of the government body, while the overall U.S. electorate is 41 percent people of color. That gap is as wide as it was 40 years ago. One barrier to fair representation is abuse and intimidation—according to a new report from the Brennan Center.
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Jan 29, 2024 | 
brennancenter.org | Sindy Benavides |Kimberly Peeler-Allen |Ruby Edlin |Grady Short
Since 2000, the number of Latinos in any elected office has nearly doubled. In 2022, voters sent a record number of Latinos to Congress. The midterms also saw the largest class of Latinos serving in statewide executive office and the reelection of the nation’s first Democratic Latina governor. Despite these historic gains, fewer than 2 percent of elected officials are Latino — a community that makes up almost 20 percent of the U.S. population. And one reason, increasingly, is fear.
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Jul 25, 2023 | 
brennancenter.org | Michael Waldman |Ruby Edlin |Lawrence Norden
You’re reading The Briefing, Michael Waldman’s weekly newsletter. Click here to receive it every week in your inbox. Donald Trump’s legal hot water continues to heat up. Special counsel Jack Smith sent a target letter to the former president last week, and an indictment could come within days. We don’t yet know Smith’s full theory of the case, but the statutes he is reportedly considering open the possibility of a broad prosecution that could go beyond the events of January 6.
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Jul 18, 2023 | 
brennancenter.org | Derek Tisler |Ruby Edlin |Daniel Weiner |Lawrence Norden
This was originally published by Election Center’s Journal of Election Administration’s Research & Practice. AbstractAlthough election officials have successfully managed recent election cycles amidst significant challenges, they have faced a relentless onslaught of attacks fueled by false perceptions about their work. As part of a multifaceted response to these attacks, election officials should elevate the ethical principles that guide their work to safeguard democracy.
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Apr 25, 2023 | 
brennancenter.org | Michael Waldman |Ruby Edlin |Lawrence Norden
You’re reading The Briefing, Michael Waldman’s weekly newsletter. Click here to receive it every week in your inbox. Our elections are secure, but our election officials are not. Today, the Brennan Center released a new poll of local election officials. Twelve percent, roughly one in nine, are new in the job since the 2020 election, and eleven percent of officials in office are likely to leave their jobs before the 2024 election. Part of the Great Resignation? Not exactly.
