Voting, Voting Rights, Voter Challenges, Elections, Election Rules & Election Fraud_1

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GOP puts poll-watching over door-knocking

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Former President Trump's obsession with "election integrity" has led his team to build a network of more than 150,000 poll watchers and poll workers, while relying mostly on outside groups to connect with voters on the ground, Axios' Sophia Cai writes. Why it matters: Some Republicans worry that Trump's focus on preventing a "rigged" election has hurt the party's ground game — the get-out-the-vote operations that can be crucial in an election as close as this one. Trump's "election integrity" team also has drawn complaints from Democrats about potential voter intimidation at the polls. If Trump loses on Nov. 5, the election teams would be his evidence collectors for what almost certainly would be a barrage of legal challenges — and calls for state officials not to certify the election results. ? Zoom in: The difference between the Harris and Trump door-to-door campaigns is evident in the swing states likely to decide the election. Harris' team says 330,000 people have worked as volunteers since she announced her campaign last month. The campaign has about 1,500 staffers. After months of declining to specify the scope of Trump's ground operations, Trump campaign political director James Blair posted on X that the campaign has hundreds of paid staffers. Blair told Axios the campaign has 14,000 trained volunteers or "Trump Force 47 Captains" in battleground states. He added that the operation has more volunteers but wouldn't elaborate. Keep reading.

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Mississippi officials sue to block federal voter registration efforts

Mississippi is joining eight other states in a lawsuit attempting to block efforts by the administration of President Joe Biden to make voter registration easier.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/08/14/mississippi-officials-sue-to-block-federal-voter-registration-efforts/?

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If americans are actually serious about voting they will do it without making voting easier. That simply is another word for cheat

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Post-2020 voter ID restrictions are getting their first test in November elections

Florida is among the states that have ramped up voter ID laws since former President Donald Trump made false claims of a rigged 2020 election. November will see the first elections run under those new laws.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/08/16/post-2020-voter-id-restrictions-are-getting-their-first-test-in-november-elections/?

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Iran is now the biggest foreign threat to the 2024 elections

Iran, not Russia, is proving to be the biggest nation-state threat to the U.S. presidential election in November.

https://www.axios.com/2024/08/16/iran-foreign-interference-2024-presidential-election?

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New election laws cause one FL elections supervisor to tighten scrutiny on VBM ballots

St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections Vicky Oakes says that when it comes to verifying a voter’s signature on their vote-by-mail ballot, her philosophy has always been to “err” on the side of the voter.  But no more.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/08/16/new-election-laws-cause-one-fl-elections-supervisor-to-tighten-scrutiny-on-vbm-ballots/?

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Democrats are dwindling in Wyoming. A primary election law further reduces their influence

LUSK, Wyo. (AP) — In some far reaches of rural America, Democrats are flirting with extinction. In Niobrara County, Wyoming, the least-populated county in the least-populated state, Becky Blackburn is one of just 32 left.

https://apnews.com/article/wyoming-primary-democrats-switching-registration-republicans-5954c50500556a36f6664cc0bce2a6d6?

Editorial: Why vote? Stickers, satisfaction and the chance to save democracy

As most of you have noticed, there’s a bit of an election going on. The signs are unmistakable — starting with actual signs, thickly clustered along the roadsides. Then there are the torrents of mailers in every mailbox, singing the praises of candidates while blasting the sins of their opponents. You may have even spotted one of the rarer manifestations: People stationed at intersections, waving far too enthusiastically in this heat.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/08/19/editorial-why-vote-stickers-satisfaction-and-the-chance-to-save-democracy/?

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? Axios Vibes: Dems close Latino gap

Data: Axios Harris Poll. (Margin of error: ±1.9%.) Chart: Axios Visuals Democrats have closed a large enthusiasm gap among Latino voters in the weeks since President Biden dropped his re-election bid, according to a new Axios Vibes survey by The Harris Poll. Why it matters: The shift to a Harris-Walz ticket has particularly energized millennial Latinos — ages 28-43 — as well as the younger Generation Z and women in this fast-growing demographic, Axios' Margaret Talev and Russell Contreras write. Those voting blocs of Latinos appear especially motivated by having a new alternative to former President Trump. "It's back to a wide-open race," said John Gerzema, CEO of The Harris Poll. "With Latinos, we were seeing this pronounced shift in enthusiasm toward Trump and a populist message. Now, this is a new race. It's a reset." ?️ The big picture: 83% of registered Latino Democratic voters and 84% of Latino Republican voters now say they're extremely likely to vote. In last month's survey, only 71% of Latino Democrats felt that way, compared with 86% of Latino Republicans. 63% of Latino voters in both major parties now say they're enthusiastic to vote. That closes last month's 16-point gap of 40% for Democrats and 56% for Republicans. Keep reading.

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?️ Latino voting power

By Kate Murphy, Russell Contreras and Margaret Talev

Data: Census Bureau; Chart: Axios Visuals Democrats have closed an enthusiasm gap among Latino voters in the weeks since President Biden dropped his re-election bid, according to a new Axios Vibes survey by The Harris Poll. Why it matters: The shift to a Kamala Harris-Tim Walz ticket has particularly energized millennial Latinos — ages 28-43 — as well as the younger Gen Z and women, in this fast-growing demographic. The big picture: 83% of registered Latino Democratic voters and 84% of Latino Republican voters now say they're extremely likely to vote. Zoom in: Latinos represent a large voting bloc in southern and central California, where they are becoming more politically engaged. In San Diego County, 31.4% of the voting-age population is Latino. The intrigue: The survey showed housing affordability and wages are outsized issues for Latino voters compared to non-Latinos. Read more

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?️ Latino voting power in Texas

By Russell Contreras, Margaret Talev and Tasha Tsiaperas

Data: Census Bureau; Chart: Axios Visuals Democrats have closed an enthusiasm gap among Latino voters in the weeks since President Biden dropped his re-election bid, according to a new Axios Vibes survey by The Harris Poll. Why it matters: The shift to a Kamala Harris-Tim Walz ticket has particularly energized millennial Latinos — ages 28-43 — as well as the younger Gen Z and women in this fast-growing demographic. Zoom in: Latinos represent a huge voting bloc in Texas. Though the largest concentration is in southern Texas, Latinos make up about a quarter of the voting-age population in Dallas-Fort Worth, per U.S. Census Bureau data. About 37% of potential voters in Dallas County are Latino. In Tarrant County, Latinos make up almost 27% of the voting-age population. The big picture: 83% of registered Latino Democratic voters and 84% of Latino Republican voters now say they're extremely likely to vote. 63% of Latino voters in both major parties now say they're enthusiastic to vote. That closes last month's 16-point gap of 40% for Democrats and 56% for Republicans. Note: Margin of error ±1.9%; Data: Axios Harris Poll; Chart: Axios Visuals Context: Inflation is still the top issue for Latino voters across party lines, followed by housing prices, jobs and wages, and crime and safety. Securing the border is a top concern for Latino Republicans, while abortion rights rank high among Latino Democrats and independents.

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Georgia counties urge state elections board to stop changing rules ahead of November

ATLANTA (AP) — County election officials in Georgia are asking the State Election Board to stop changing the rules ahead of the November election, citing concerns about creating unnecessary confusion for poll workers and voters.

https://apnews.com/article/georgia-state-election-board-rules-412ad7544d9002fb2a548c62f4210158?

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Rid of Raffensperger, Georgia Election Board blazes path for counties to overturn a Trump loss

In the aftermath of the 2020 election, Donald Trump mounted a concerted effort to defy the voters’ verdict and remain in office, even if it meant fomenting violence and blocking the peaceful transfer of power.

https://georgiarecorder.com/2024/08/22/rid-of-raffensperger-georgia-election-board-blazes-path-for-counties-to-overturn-a-trump-loss/?

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Officials Voted Down a Controversial Georgia Election Rule, Saying It Violated the Law. Then a Similar Version Passed.

The members of the Georgia State Election Board could not have been clearer. Back in May, four of them voted down a proposed rule that would have given county election boards a new way to delay or reject election results, which could throw the November vote count into chaos.

https://www.propublica.org/article/georgia-election-rule-violates-state-law-experts-say?

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What to know after Texas authorities searched the homes of Latino campaign volunteers

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A series of raids in Texas on the homes of Latino campaign volunteers has outraged civil rights groups who want federal action after officers seized electronics and documents as part of a state investigation into alleged election fraud.

https://apnews.com/article/texas-latino-volunteer-voter-raids-a258c768384d9a80bb10ce274023ad4a?

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Chasing a paper dream

Except for small, private group elections, I’ve never voted using anything other than a machine. I always trusted that my vote on mechanical or electronic devices would be counted appropriately and accurately — and I still do.

https://arkansasadvocate.com/2024/08/29/chasing-a-paper-dream/?

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? Record election enthusiasm

Data: Gallup. Chart: Axios Visuals Americans, driven by a Democratic surge, are the most enthusiastic about the presidential election in 24 years of Gallup polling. Democrats' enthusiasm is one point shy of the party's high — 79% in February 2008, during the Clinton-Obama primary. Go deeper.

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?️ Gender gap widens

Sample: 2,496 U.S. adults. (Margin of error: ± 2 points.) Chart: ABC News Labor Day snapshot: Vice President Harris didn't get much of a convention bounce, but widened her advantage among women in a new ABC News/Ipsos poll. Among women, Harris leads by 13 points, 54%-41%. Among men, former President Trump leads by 5 points, 51%-46% (not statistically significant). Why it matters: That's an 18-point gender gap. ? Between the lines: Much of the female-male change occurred among white people. "White women have gone from +13 points for Trump pre-convention to a virtual dead heat (Trump +2) now; white men, from +13 points for Trump before the convention to +21 points now," ABC News polling director Gary Langer writes. ? Reality check: Top Democrats tell me they're very worried that many activists feel like this is a 60-40 race when the reality is more 50-50. Harris had what many insiders call the best month in the history of presidential politics. But the race is still tied. ? A finding from another poll that leaps out: Among swing-state women under 45, abortion has overtaken the economy as their top voting issue, according to N.Y. Times/Siena College polls of registered voters. Gift link — no paywall ... More ABC graphics.

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?️ First mail-in ballots tomorrow

Data: NCSL. Note: * indicates states where elections are allowed to be conducted entirely via mail. Map: Axios Visuals North Carolina tomorrow will become the first state to mail out 2024 ballots, Axios' Ivana Saric writes. Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Virginia all begin in-person early voting this month (mapped above). Why it matters: Election Day is two months away. But tens of millions of voters won't wait that long — we really have Election Autumn. ? What we're watching: RFK Jr. is trying to halt the absentee process in North Carolina so he can get off the ballot. Barring a last-minute intervention from the judge in a hearing scheduled for today, the ballots will go out with Kennedy's name on them. Go deeper: Key election dates.

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GOP lawsuits set the stage for state challenges if Trump loses the election

Before voters even begin casting ballots, Democrats and Republicans are engaged in a sprawling legal fight over the 2024 election through a series of court disputes that could even run past Nov. 5 if results are close.

https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-republicans-democrats-trump-lawsuits-2cebcee57ae7112efdd85386002e16ca?

ps:Of course and why not?????

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America braces for chaos

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Everywhere you look, signs are mounting of a tinderbox election that will test the outer bounds — and breaking points — of American democracy, honesty and civility, Axios' Zachary Basu, Erin Doherty and Sophia Cai write. Why it matters: A perfect storm has been brewing for years now — fueled by extreme polarization, election denial, political violence, historic prosecutions and rampant disinformation. Mayhem is bound to rain down in November. 5 conditions for chaos 1. A desperate Donald Trump: The former president, twice indicted for trying to overturn his 2020 loss to President Biden, repeatedly has refused to commit to accepting the results of the 2024 election — unless he wins. Trump has preemptively accused Democrats of "cheating" by swapping out Biden for Vice President Kamala Harris — a process he's labeled an unfair "coup" — and engaging in "lawfare" through criminal prosecution. Trump and his allies — especially Elon Musk — have promoted the false claim that Democrats are deliberately "importing" millions of undocumented immigrants to illegally vote in the election. Now a convicted felon scheduled to be sentenced after the election, Trump is in an existential fight not just for his political future — but for his personal freedom. The latest: In a Truth Social post late Saturday, Trump decried "rampant Cheating and Skullduggery" in the 2020 election and promised "long term prison sentences" for anyone involved in "unscrupulous behavior" in 2024. 2. A nail-biter like no other: In the 15 presidential elections since 1964, a candidate has led by more than five points in the national polling average for at least three weeks, according to CNN data analyst Harry Enten. In 2024, that hasn't been the case for a single day. The race is extraordinarily close — and will come down to tens of thousands of votes in just seven battleground states. One nightmare recipe for chaos: A 269-269 Electoral College tie, which would trigger a contingent election in the House, whereby each state delegation casts a single vote. Trump would be likely to win in this case. 3. A battleground legal brawl: Republicans already have filed more than 100 lawsuits against various voting and election procedures — part of a formalized "election integrity" push grounded in Trump's baseless claims of fraud in 2020. Trump's campaign and the Republican National Committee say they've built a network of about 175,000 volunteer poll watchers and poll workers. Democrats have assembled their own massive legal team and voter protection program as they gird for aggressive election challenges. Experts are especially anxious about the potential intimidation of election workers forced to count ballots under tense conditions, David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, told Axios. 4. The specter of violence: On Jan. 6, 2021, a violent mob stormed the Capitol to try to stop Congress' certification of the Electoral College results. Eight weeks ago, a gunman came within inches of assassinating Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania. Political violence has increasingly become normalized in the U.S.: In a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in May, more than two-thirds of Americans said they were concerned about extremist violence after the election. Top Democrats tell Axios they fear Trump will again cry "stolen election" if he loses and call for street mobilization to "take back the country" — potentially leading to multiple Jan. 6-like incidents at state capitols. 5. A cesspool of disinformation: Right-wing cable news networks — Fox News, Newsmax, OANN — are likely to tread more carefully around baseless claims of election fraud after being sued for defamation in the aftermath of 2020. But on X, where pro-Trump owner Elon Musk and his allies routinely pump out conspiracy theories to their millions of followers, the information environment has deteriorated dramatically since 2020. Compounding the problem is the threat of election interference by foreign adversaries: An axis of disinformation helmed by Russia, China and Iran has grown more sophisticated with its influence operations. Reality check: The whole country — from voters and political parties to Hollywood and big-box retailers — is preparing for potential chaos. That makes it more likely that the system once again will hold. The Electoral Count Reform Act passed by Congress, for example, added new guardrails to the process for certifying election results — ensuring the vice president has only a ceremonial role on Jan. 6. "While I expect that if Trump loses, he will try everything he can to do whatever is possible to seize power, he will fail," Becker told Axios. "I'm 100% confident that who actually wins the election in November is going to have their hand on the Bible in January."

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?️ Election season is here

By Andrew Keatts

Illustration: Natalie Peeples/Axios

If TV commercials and the contents of your mailboxes didn't give it away, election season is in full swing. Why it matters: Election Day, on Nov. 5, will determine who controls local governments and the fate of a host local tax measures and state propositions. How to vote Every registered voter will receive a ballot in the mail on the week of Oct. 6. You can return that ballot through the postal service through Nov. 5, as long as you sign the return envelope. Drop boxes will open around the county beginning Oct. 8; the County Registrar will publish a list and map of those locations on its information page once ballots go out. In-person voting is available at the County Registrar's office starting Oct. 7, select vote centers beginning Oct. 26 and at over 200 locations beginning Nov. 2. Zoom in: The voter registration deadline is Oct. 21. If you miss it, you can still register and submit a conditional ballot by visiting the registrar or a vote center through Nov. 5. The latest: We are launching a voter guide that we'll update throughout election season. Expect to see 1-minute voter guides outlining the ballot choices in all 18 cities in San Diego County, plus more in-depth coverage on a race-by-race basis. Go deeper

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The first general election ballots are going in the mail as the presidential contest nears

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The first general election ballots for the presidential race are going out Wednesday as Alabama officials begin mailing them to absentee voters with the Nov. 5 contest less than two months away.

https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-first-ballots-voting-alabama-mail-1ef4f9694cc5edbb07fd3d641d6d248e?

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2020 déjà vu

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

Experts warn we could be in for another delayed, disputed election outcome. Why it matters: In the toss-up states — Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia — presidential margins could be even closer this time, Axios' Erin Doherty and Jeremy Duda write. Some new laws and policies aim to expedite ballot counts. But many rules and timelines will be the same. ? The big picture: Most swing states' vote counting and certification could again extend beyond Election Day. "It is a near guarantee that Donald Trump will declare victory the night of Nov. 5 and the margin won't matter," David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, told Axios. What we're watching: ? Arizona's drawn-out process causes notoriously long delays in finalizing results is unchanged from 2020. That means leads in close races can change as those ballots are counted in the days after the election. ? In Pennsylvania, county officials are sounding the alarm that counting again will probably take days. The state doesn't allow offices to begin opening mail-in ballots until 7 a.m. on Election Day. The process took days in 2020, and its divided state legislature has not agreed on major changes since. ? In Wisconsin, a bipartisan effort that would have allowed election officials to begin processing absentee ballots before Election Day failed to pass the legislature this year.

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?️ Exclusive poll: Young nervous Americans

"Nervous" and "scared" are the most common feelings young people have about the election, according to a poll from American University's Sine Institute and Generation Lab shared exclusively with Axios. Why it matters: Young voters are a key voting bloc for Vice President Harris' campaign, and she's relying on young women to turn out. Donald Trump is courting young men without college degrees. ? By the numbers: 32% of Americans ages 18-34 reported feeling both nervous and scared about the upcoming election. Among registered voters, 55% said they'd vote for Harris and 24% said they'd vote for Trump. Another 11% opted for a third party. Keep reading.

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Election officials prepare for threats with panic buttons, bulletproof glass

MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) — The election director in Cobb County, an Atlanta suburb where votes will be fiercely contested in this year’s presidential race, recently organized a five-hour training session. The focus wasn’t solely on the nuts and bolts of running this year’s election. Instead, it brought together election staff and law enforcement to strategize on how to keep workers safe and the process of voting and ballot-counting secure.

https://apnews.com/article/election-workers-2024-threats-security-police-trump-kamala-biden-steal-c4f27414a5a90b67983b0349a370dd13?