Is Profit Motive Behind 2020 Presidential Election Disinformation?
AUSTIN, Texas -- Critics of the post-election presidential audits ongoing in Arizona and threatened in Pennsylvania advised to discern the truth, follow the money. David Becker, executive director and founder of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, said the organizations and news networks that allege President Joe Biden did not defeat Donald Trump by eight million votes in 2020 are sowing doubt, because they've been incentivized to divide the country. Becker suspects they're doing it to raise money from Trump supporters disappointed by the outcome. "And those who seek to profit off of those disinformation campaigns and lying to supporters of the former president, they're really preying upon these people for profit," Becker asserted. By not accepting verified election results, Becker argued, people are making the case democracy no longer serves United States' citizens. Many Republicans reject the 2020 results, believing there was election fraud, although state election officials from both political parties have said there's no evidence of widespread fraud or other irregularities. Becker noted ongoing threats against election officials and their families also work to delegitimize election outcomes and destabilize democracy. He cited a survey by the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Brennan Center for Justice, which found one in three election officials feel unsafe in their jobs. Becker warned America could lose a generation of professionalism and expertise in election administration    "And we are seeing an exodus of experienced election officials from both parties," Becker observed. "This is of great concern, particularly as we're now seeing some of the election deniers actually run for Secretary of State in places like Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, etc." The Brennan Center report also found one in five election officials said they're concerned about death threats, while half said the explosion of disinformation about elections has made their jobs more dangerous. Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York. References: Election officials safety report Brennan Center for Justice/Bipartisan Policy Center 06/16/2021    get more stories like this via email    CONCORD, N.H. -- Good-government groups in New Hampshire are keeping an eye on several bills expected to come back next legislative session, arguing the bills would restrict voting rights, from requiring voter ID to expanding voter roll purges. Last week, the state Supreme Court struck down a Republican-backed 2017 voter registration law, which would have created new forms voters would have to fill out to prove residency if they register within 30 days of an election. Liz Tentarelli, president of the League of Women Voters of New Hampshire, said the requirements would be burdensome to many voters. "This was a bill that through its complexity alone would discourage voting," Tentarelli asserted. "This ruling finally said that the state needs to make its election law, fair to all, clear to all." She added voters already have to live in New Hampshire. If they don't have photo ID, they are required to sign an affidavit attesting to their identity and domicile. She pointed out the additional requirement the court struck down would have brought unnecessary confusion, especially for college students. The ruling came days after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld two voting laws in Arizona that opponents said harm access to voting in primarily Black, brown and Indigenous communities. Tentarelli noted the League is preparing to testify against multiple bills next session, including one that would require applications for absentee ballots to be notarized. "There's no evidence that people who voted absentee were doing so fraudulently," Tentarelli confirmed. The only reason is to hinder people from voting." She contended New Hampshire's current voting laws make the process secure, and added access to voting is not a partisan issue, and should be protected by everyone. References: Senate Bill 3 (2017) 07/10/2017  House Bill 292    get more stories like this via email    HELENA, Mont. -- Voting-rights groups are concerned a new Montana law could depress student turnout in elections. This session, state lawmakers passed a number of voting restrictions, including Senate Bill 169, which requires students to use another proof of identity along with a college-issued ID to register to vote. Madison Morgan, secretary of the board of directors at the Montana Public Interest Research Group and a University of Montana student, laid out a common situation for students and one that would have kept her from registering two years ago. "This law gives you the option of using a utility bill, a pay stub or things like that. Well, I moved into a dorm and I did not have a job the first fall here," Morgan explained. The Montana Democratic Party has challenged the law in court. In a court filing defending the law, Republican Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen's office said students often attend school away from their home state. Morgan noted people just need to have lived in the state for at least 30 days to register to vote. Jacobsen's office also claimed the IDs are easy to forge. The office did not respond to a request for comment. Morgan's situation is unique. She was born on a naval base in Puerto Rico and only lived there for three months. But birth certificates issued by Puerto Rico before 2009 are considered invalid because of worries they can be easily faked. So it has been hard for Morgan to get proper identification in the United States. However, she added there are plenty of other situations that could make it hard for students to register. "Whether it's that they're coming from a foster home and they lost proper identification, or there was a house fire, or at one point they were homeless, people shouldn't be punished for things like that," Morgan argued. "And I think that voting with your student ID was a great tool to keep young people voting." The law could have an effect soon. Morgan noted the state is holding local elections this November. "We tend to not see great turnout in any state, honestly, with municipal elections, but this is just another way to keep the youth voice out of it," Morgan contended. Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York. References: Senate Bill 169 04/19/2021  State defense of law Mont. Sec'y of State 06/02/2021  Voter registration requirements Mont. Sec'y of State    get more stories like this via email