Watch Out! Here Come the Election Manipulators!

 

You read the headline! That’s great!

Let’s cut to the chase, shall we?

There are several people who are charged with the job of verifying the outcomes of elections that cling to the mistaken notion that President #45 won the 2020 Presidential election, despite all contentions to the contrary. These folks are termed, “election deniers”.

According to an op-ed in the Erie Times-News cited the USA TODAY Network focusing “…on seven key states that sent false electors saying Trump won the 2020 election – Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

“In these seven states, a candidate is included as an election denier if they:

“Were one of the 147 members of Congress who voted against certifying the election results or said they would have if they were in office.

Have publicly said the 2020 election was “rigged,” “stolen,” marred by voter fraud or otherwise illegitimate — and have not recanted their false claim.

Or still publicly question the results of the 2020 election, nearly two years after it has been certified.” (6)

This viewpoint seems to give a clearer and more easily defined benchmark.

Returning to my flagrantly click-baiting headline, a Rolling Stone investigation in 2022 found that numerous "election deniers" - those who reject the outcome of the 2020 election despite no evidence of widespread fraud - had gained positions in election offices nationwide. This trend raises alarms about the potential impact on election administration and public trust in democratic processes. (1)

The proliferation of election deniers in official roles appears to stem from a coordinated effort to place like-minded individuals in key positions. Groups like the American First Secretary of State Coalition have explicitly worked to elect candidates who question the 2020 results to roles overseeing elections. Their goal is to "restore trust" in elections, but critics argue their true aim is gaining power over election systems. (2)

By early 2022, election deniers had won races for Secretary of State - the top election official in many states - in places like Nevada and Michigan. Numerous election deniers also secured positions at county and local levels involved in managing voter rolls, staffing polling places, and certifying results. (3)

The presence of election deniers in these roles creates several concerns: they may use their authority to cast doubt on legitimate election outcomes that they disagree with politically, they could potentially interfere with election processes or certification of results, their rhetoric may further erode public confidence in electoral systems, and They may be more susceptible to baseless claims of fraud in future elections.

Experts emphasize that U.S. elections remain secure and accurate overall. Multiple audits and court cases found no evidence of significant fraud in 2020. However, having officials in place who reject these findings threatens to undermine the perceived legitimacy of future elections.

To address these issues, some have called for increased training and oversight of election officials. Others advocate for nonpartisan administration of elections to reduce political influence. Ultimately, rebuilding public trust in electoral systems likely requires a multifaceted approach involving education, transparency, and safeguards against interference.

It's important to note that many election officials across the political spectrum continue to uphold their duties with integrity. The actions of a vocal minority should not overshadow the dedicated work of thousands of officials and volunteers who ensure free and fair elections.

As the United States moves toward future elections, the presence of election deniers in positions of authority over the process will likely remain a contentious issue. Balancing democratic participation in election administration with the need for officials who respect electoral outcomes presents an ongoing challenge for American democracy.

If you are concerned about this issue, then please contact the offices of the Secretary of State in your state. Don’t be afraid to ask them point-blank if they believe that the Biden-Harris Administration has won the 2020 election. Let all of your friends and family know the outcome of that conversation. Barring that, feel free to let every one of your friends and family on social media and in your house and neighborhood about this issue. Please, send them a link to this article. The more people that know the harder it will be to back-talk their involvement in this plan to subvert the 2024 election in the Republican party. This is a clear and present danger to our democracy.

Full disclosure: This piece was produced with the assistance of AI computer applications. However, it has been edited and all claims can be verified via the references listed below. I encourage readers to consult these sources directly for the most up-to-date and comprehensive information on this complex and evolving topic.

References:

1. Rolling Stone investigation: "Inside the Election Denial Movement's Rush to Staff Voting Offices Across America" by Tim Dickinson, May 2022

2. Brennan Center for Justice: "Election Deniers' Takeover of Election Offices Raises Alarm" by Lawrence Norden, February 2022

3. States United Democracy Center: "Democracy Crisis in the Making" report, updated August 2022

4. Reuters: "Special Report: Backers of Trump's false fraud claims seek to control next elections" by Nathan Layne, September 2021

5. NPR: "Election deniers are running to control voting. Here's how they've fared so far" by Miles Parks, June 2022

6. Racciopi, D. (2022). How we define an election denier. Retrieved August 2, 2024, from Erie Times-News. https://www.goerie.com/story/news/politics/2022/10/04/editors-note-how-we-define-an-election-denier/67098079007/