
Ms. Magazine: Protecting the Process: Why You Should Always Talk Politics at the Dinner Table
Op-ed by Faces of Democracy participant Carly Koppes...
Project
A campaign of election officials and workers to strengthen U.S. elections in 2022 and 2024
The Faces of Democracy campaign, powered by election workers themselves, aims to win significant, predictable, and regular funding for state and local election administration by Congress, protections for election workers and facilities, and the updating of arcane election laws.
Election officials and poll workers are our neighbors and our friends – and they make our democracy work. Amidst a pandemic that added significant new challenges, they ensured we had “the most secure election in history” in 2020 with record turnout.
But despite running an election that was fair, safe, and secure, there has been a massive election disinformation campaign led by former President Trump and his allies to sow mistrust in our elections. This environment has given rise to unprecedented incidents of harassment and intimidation of election officials.
More than 75% of election officials say that threats against election administrators and staff have increased in recent years. Reuters has documented more than 850 such cases already, and workers continue to face intense political pressure and intimidation.The percentage saying they are “very worried” about political leaders interfering in future elections has nearly tripled since before 2020. Now one in five election officials plan to leave their jobs before the 2024 election.
“No election official should face political pressure, threats, or intimidation for doing their jobs and protecting the integrity of our elections. If we want to maintain a functioning democracy, we must keep our elections free, fair, and safe. Anyone who violently threatens an election worker or their family must be held fully accountable under our rule of law.” – Former Philadelphia City Commissioner Al Schmidt
Election workers know firsthand what it will take to ensure our elections in 2022 and 2024 meet the standards for fairness, safety and security, and to address the country’s evolving needs and challenges, including disinformation. The campaign is informed by the experiences of election officials and workers across the country — faces of democracy from both red states and blue, rural communities and urban, and from every level, including secretaries of state, city commissioners, county clerks and registrars, poll workers and election judges. It is guided by the following principles:
“Supporting our election infrastructure through regular and predictable funding is critical to ensuring secure and credible elections. During the global pandemic, states and localities across the country faced significant funding shortfalls. Private philanthropy stepped up at the last moment to help close the funding gap, but future elections shouldn’t need to rely on private donors. The federal government must deliver the resources election officials need to safely and fairly administer our elections.” – Acting Pennsylvania Secretary of State Leigh Chapman
In order to address these threats, ensure the integrity of our elections, and protect the people who run them, Congress should:
“At one point I had such a credible threat that I had police officers with me. These people were trying to get my home address and my social security number… I was at a viewing once and I heard people whispering about who I was, and I actually left. I had to leave church one Sunday.” – Philadelphia City Commissioner Lisa Deeley
“I’ve testified before Congress on cyber security and the need for more election resources from the federal government to the states. We don’t need a large sum of money every 10 years or every five years. What we need is consistent, dedicated funding so that we can plan ahead and do the things that we need to do. Administering our elections securely is not cheap.” – Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos
Resources:
Op-ed by Faces of Democracy participant Carly Koppes...
Op-ed by Faces of Democracy participants Natalie Adona and Neal Kelley...
Press releases
“Every person involved in the conspiracy must be brought to justice, and that includes the former president.”...
In response to today’s vote by the January 6th Committee to issue criminal referrals to the Department of Justice against former President Trump, Issue One Founder and CEO Nick Penniman…
Press releases
The poll comes as parents, pediatricians, and youth leaders urge Congress to pass the Kids Online Safety Act in the remaining days of the legislative session...
In a poll released today by the Council for Responsible Social Media (CRSM), Washington residents overwhelmingly support passing the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), a bipartisan bill that would safeguard…
Press releases
Members of the Council for Responsible Social Media urge lawmakers to prioritize and pass the Kids Online Safety Act in the remaining weeks of the legislative session...
Today, members of the Council for Responsible Social Media endorsed the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and called on members of Congress to pass this important legislation during the…
In the media
In the media
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Exclusive on the launch of the Council for Responsible Social Media...
Podcast episodes
During the 2022 midterm elections, in many of the most competitive, high-profile races, Americans rejected election denialism. But it’s also still true that many people have lost trust in our…
Press releases
Following the 2022 midterm elections, co-chairs for Issue One’s bipartisan National Council on Election Integrity released the following statement: “Democracy won this week,” said former Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-MD). “Across…
Press releases
In the wake of the 2022 midterm elections, Issue One CEO and Founder Nick Penniman issued the following the statement: “While officials across the country are still counting the votes,…