COMMUNICATING WITH CONSTITUENTS

According to a February poll from the Bipartisan Policy Center, approximately 3 in 10 Americans are “less than confident” that their votes will be counted accurately in the 2024 election. As lawmakers, you play an essential role in fostering transparent, fact-based conversations that create conditions where constituents continue to trust America’s democratic process, including elections.

Key Talking Points About Election Safety

American elections are models for fairness, freedom, and checks and balances.
Americans are confident that their votes will be counted as intended at the local level, and local elections officials are the most trusted sources for information about elections.
Teams of people from both parties work together at every step of the voting, counting, and reporting process, from checking voter eligibility, to confirming the accuracy of results from each voting location, to securely transporting ballots and other materials, to serving as independent observers.
Elections are run with similar security principles and safeguards across the country.
Election results come from counting every vote and following the law, not media predictions or candidates who claim victory. Results will take time; it’s better to be accurate.

Below are several resources from trusted nonpartisan and cross-partisan sources for you to consider as you develop your approach to discussing America's democratic processes, institutions, and safeguards, with a focus on election security and integrity.

-- United In Security: How Every State Protects Your Vote: Contains clear, concise, detailed explanations that help lawmakers and voters alike understand the security and integrity protections that make American elections strong, resilient, and trustworthy in every jurisdiction. This resource was developed jointly by the Bipartisan Policy Center, Issue One, and R Street.

-- Conservative Principles for Building Trust in Elections: Outlines principles designed to help conservative leaders shore up confidence in American elections within their local communities, but leaders across the political spectrum may find it useful. It also provides examples for the application of these principles in public statements and conversation. This toolkit was developed by the Johns Hopkins University SNF Agora Institute and R Street.

-- Misinformation Dashboard: Tracks key topics and tactics of 2024 election misinformation, as well as data on the spread of specific narratives and misinformation about top policy issues, including election integrity. The site highlights overall trends in misinformation and provides a running list of examples of viral misinformation, with fact-checking. This tool was designed by the nonpartisan, nonprofit News Literacy Project.

-- State-by-State Law Enforcement Quick Reference Guides: Summarize key penal provisions found within state law for each state, including electoral security and integrity protections. They also have contact information for reporting suspicious behavior to local and state election officials, as well as state-specific details about polling times, places, and formats. These guides were developed by the cross-partisan Committee for Safe and Secure Elections.

--Election Violence Prevention Resource Hub: Contains materials to prevent and report instances of political violence, developed by the international violence-prevention group Over Zero. In addition, explore messaging guidance on the following topics:

Each of these resources is one tool in your communications toolkit, equipping you to proactively share messaging around bipartisanship, election integrity and security, and nonviolent political participation. If you integrate these strategies into your communications plan, consider leveraging your social media content or constituent newsletters, as well as op-eds or letters to the editor.

PLANNING AND PREPARING

Elections can be contentious and lead to confrontations—with strangers online, with family at the dinner table, or even in public. It’s important that people express their views in safe, healthy, and peaceful ways.

You have no doubt imagined a long, varied list of election scenarios. How prepared do you feel to respond to each of them, both as a citizen and as a leader? Consider hosting an election scenario planning meeting with your Future Caucus chapter, fellow lawmakers, or even your family to develop plans—and backup plans—for responsibly and safely navigating this election.

Scenario planning helps decision-makers identify ranges of potential outcomes and impacts, evaluate responses, and manage for both positive and negative possibilities. Moreover, by visualizing potential risks and opportunities, scenario planning can help you become proactive versus simply reacting to events.

Here is a resource to help you plan: Election Scenario Planning— a document that presents hypothetical scenarios designed to spark ideas and problem-solving, aimed at increasing community resilience during polarized or contentious elections. This resource was developed by the TRUST Network and the Listen First Project.

If you’d like to explore ideas for engaging on these issues with your community and your state, please contact Future Caucus! Our public affairs team will be happy to discuss ways that you can use your voice to help strengthen the foundations of US democracy and promote trust in our elections, and the Policy Innovation Lab team can connect you with additional resources, data, and expertise on election integrity and security in your state.

Best,

Reed Howard

Chief Strategy & Public Affairs Officer