The end of September marks the end of summer and the beginning of fall, which means we’re heading into pumpkin spice and oversize sweaters season! September also marked a busy month for us, and we’re eager to tell you about all we’ve been up to!
Here are some highlights from the past month:
Election Protection
This election season, Issue One is busy supporting election officials, combating false election information, and educating Americans about how elections work. From launching our HowElectionsWork.org website to spreading the word about a new documentary that highlights election officials and all they do to ensure free and fair elections, we’re working hard to build confidence in the 2024 elections. Read about all the work we’re doing!
Want to show your support for election workers? Issue One established a pledge for citizens and organizations to speak out against the harassment of these dedicated public servants who protect our democracy. Sign the pledge today!
Stay informed this election season with VoteWise, our chatbot available on WhatsApp, Telegram and Facebook/Instagram. VoteWise is a simple and free way for users to fact-check information about elections in the United States and learn more about how they’re run. Test it out!
In a new episode of our “Democracy Fix” podcast, Issue One’s Director of Election Protection Dr. Carah Ong Whaley and Election Protection Intern Jeanne Broome spoke with Tina Barton, Senior Election Expert at The Elections Group, and National Council on Election Integrity Co-chair former Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN) about the biggest threats facing U.S. elections and what is being done to address them. Listen, rate, and subscribe to “Democracy Fix” on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
We’ve been featuring election workers from across the country to highlight the work they do on behalf of our democracy. Check out the latest installment of our Meet the Faces of Democracy Q&A series — a conversation with Bill Gates, who serves on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors!
This month, we released two new surveyanalyses about Americans’ attitudes on our electoral system. One key finding: There was near-universal agreement on the need to protect election workers from threats and harassment. An overwhelming 93.4% of respondents agreed that election workers should be shielded, highlighting a rare area of bipartisan consensus.
Holding Big Tech Accountable
According to a new poll we released alongside our partners ParentsSOS and Fairplay, bipartisan legislation requiring social media platforms to protect kids and teens from online harms has near universal support across the political spectrum. Read more about the poll’s findings.
Jamie Neikrie, Legislative Manager for Technology Reform, wrote an opinion piece in MarketWatch about how Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, shut down CrowdTangle – a critical tool for researchers and journalists to study activity on Facebook and Instagram.
On September 18, the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted to advance the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), preparing the bill for a full House vote. Issue One Council for Responsible Social Media Director Alix Fraser applauded the advancement, saying, “We are on the cusp of a historic victory that will dramatically tilt the balance of power on the internet toward consumers by requiring social media companies to prioritize the health and safety of their users.”
Other Important Updates
This month, Issue One spearheaded a coalition of 13 organizations urging Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump to publicly reveal information about their top campaign fundraisers – otherwise known as “bundlers” – before Election Day. The effort was cited by The Hill.
Over 40 former members of Congress, including Issue One’s ReFormers Caucus Co-chairs Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN) and Amb. Tim Roemer (D-IN), signed a letter calling on Congress to ban congressional stock trading. In their coverage of the letter, Roll Callcited Rep. Wamp and Amb. Roemer, showcasing their dissatisfaction and the necessity for reform in Congress.
Issue One Communications & Digital Content Specialist Sydney Richards wrote a piece about how elections are a labor of love, and a time-intensive process run by hard working folks in communities across the country who are our friends, neighbors, and family members.
Issue One Research Director Michael Beckel authored a post about why presidential candidates should embrace transparency and disclose their campaign bundlers – a move that could bolster trust in our government.
An overwhelming majority of Americans from across the political spectrum believe that elected officials and candidates for office should avoid heated or aggressive language, according to a survey fielded by Issue One in August. Read Director of Election Protection Dr. Carah Ong Whaley’s analysis of the survey results.
Issue One Campaign Manager Angelina Clapp wrote a piece about the film “The Officials” by Margo Guernsey and Sara Archambault, stressing the importance of standing with the quiet protectors of our democracy.
On September 16, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia heard opening arguments from the U.S. government and TikTok, regarding TikTok, Inc. v. Merrick Garland. Issue One Council for Responsible Social Media Director Alix Fraser highlighted six things you might not know about TikTok, Inc. v. Merrick Garland, its background, and its potential implications.
The Election Protection and Tech Reform teams collaborated on a piece for our Substack,uncovering how social media platforms are spreading false narratives about noncitizen voting to populations most vulnerable to these lies.
Issue One is the leading crosspartisan political reform group in Washington. We unite Republicans, Democrats, and independents in the movement to fix our broken political system.
